The last time Chris Bassitt pitched in Toronto, he had the raucous hometown crowd behind him as he came on in relief in the sixth inning of Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers in November. The now Orioles starter returned to the Rogers Centre mound for the first time since that heartbreaking defeat on Friday night to open a three-game series against the Blue Jays in an outing that took on a very different feel in the midst of a heated American League Wild Card race. Orioles leadoff hitter Dylan Beavers began the night by sending the second pitch of the game from Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer over the right-field wall for an early 1-0 lead, and Bassitt allowed two runs over five-plus innings en route to a convincing 7-4 win. For 95 pitches, it was almost like stepping back in time for the former Blue Jay. “I love this ballpark, for sure,” Bassitt said. “It’s pretty hard to beat me here. Showing up in a must-win game for us, I’m happy to pitch. You kind of have to treat every game like a must-win. Playing clean but playing with a sense of urgency.”
