Sunday afternoon baseball is always exciting, and for the Blue Jays they had the opportunity to split their opening series of the season against the Orioles after dropping two of their first three games against Baltimore to begin the year. After an underwhelming game the day previous that saw their new starting pitcher Max Scherzer end up on the IL after his very first start, the Jays were in danger of losing their first season series. To combat the Oriole’s hitting in game number four, Toronto would send reliable veteran Chris Bassitt to the mound to try and seal the win to end the weekend.

The top of the first inning would go exactly how it’s been going all series long, with the Orioles scoring in the very first inning, however this time the run would come in the form of a wild pitch from Bassitt allowing a runner to score from third to put the O’s up 1-0. In the bottom of the first, Toronto came right back and would take the lead after a two-out single from George Springer would drive in Bo Bichette and Andres Gimenez to make it 2-1 for the Jays.

The game turned into a divine pitchers dual between Toronto’s Chris Bassitt and Baltimore’s Tomoyuki Sugano, with neither pitcher allowing a run through until Sugano would be taken out to start the bottom of the fifth. Bassitt would also find himself in multiple tough jams throughout his start, allowing eight his but being able to pitch his way to four straight scoreless innings. Bassitt would eventually be taken out in the top of the seventh allowing just the one run and in line for the win.

The offence would finally pick back up in the bottom of the seventh inning, when reliever Cionel Perez would come in for the Orioles, but would surrender a solo homerun to Jays catcher Tyler Heineman and Toronto would extend their lead to 3-1. This game would mark Heineman’s first action of the season, and he would be able to come through in what would end up being one of the biggest moments of the ballgame with some much needed insurance.

Tyler Heineman, we were unfamiliar with your game 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Wn6DQ81j0Y

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2025

The Blue Jay’s bullpen carried the load of holding the lead strong in this contest, and Jeff Hoffman would come into the game in the top of the ninth to seal the deal and secure the victory. After going 1-2-3 in the ninth, Hoffman secured the W for the Jays and picked up his first save of the season.

The Jays managed to hold the lead all the way from the bottom of the first to top of the ninth, and the pitching from Bassitt and the bullpen looked fantastic while holding the Oriole’s immense power hitting lineup to only one run. Toronto splits the series with Baltimore and looks ahead to their second matchup of the year, starting Monday night still at home when the Washington Nationals come to town for a three-game set

Winner: Toronto Blue Jays (2-2)

Loser: Baltimore Orioles (2-2)

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

G. Springer: 2/4, 2RBI

T. Heineman:. 1/3, 1HR, 1RBI

B. Bichette: 1/3, 1BB

PITCHERS:

Win: C. Bassitt: 6.0IP, 8H, 1ER, 7K

Loss: T. Sugano: 4.0IP, 4H, 2ER, 1K

Save: J. Hoffman: 1.0IP, 0H, 0ER, 2K