Bassitt ties Rocket for Blue Jays record in gem vs. A’s

Ken Waldichuk matched Bassitt for six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, but the A’s bullpen was no match for the Blue Jays in a decisive seventh.

Zach Neal came in and walked three of his four batters to start the frame. With one out and the bases loaded, Sam Long was summoned, only to be greeted by an RBI single from Kevin Kiermaier, a two-run single from George Springer and a run-scoring double from Davis Schneider.

After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was intentionally walked, Whit Merrifield hit a sacrifice fly. Long walked Alejandro Kirk to reload the bases, before walking Cavan Biggio to force in a run.

Twelve men came to the plate in all, six of them walked (one was intentional). 

Bassitt, on the other hand, had no such trouble. He allowed leadoff singles in the first two innings but induced double plays both times. 

The right-hander notched his ninth start of at least six scoreless innings, the most in the Majors this season and tied with Roger Clemens (1997) for the most such starts in a single season in franchise history.

Oakland finally touched him for a run in the seventh, when Seth Brown doubled and Jordan Diaz drove him in with an RBI single.

Bassitt allowed seven hits and totaled seven strikeouts against the team he played for from 2015-21, helping Toronto secure a series victory in the process.