Chapman, Bassitt power Jays to win over Astros
Global News
Matt Chapman had a home run and a double to extend his hot start to the season and Chris Bassitt carried a shutout in the seventh inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Tuesday night.
HOUSTON – Matt Chapman had a home run and a double to extend his hot start to the season and Chris Bassitt carried a shutout in the seventh inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Bassitt (2-2) held the Astros in check for 6 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out five. The 34-year-old right-hander didn’t allow a hit until José Abreu singled with two out in the fourth inning.
The outing was a solid turnaround for Bassitt, who had given up 13 runs in 15 1/3 innings in his first three starts. He benefited from new-found run support that wasn’t there over the previous two games.
“I felt really good,” Bassitt said. “Execution was really good, I thought, and I thought our game plan was great.”
Toronto slugged two solo home runs off Astros starter José Urquidy in the fourth inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his third homer of the season, sending a 94 m.p.h. four-seam fastball a few rows deep into the right field seats over the head of Kyle Tucker. Chapman followed, hitting his fifth homer of the season to nearly the same spot in right, but six feet further.
“Things are going good right now,” Chapman said. “I know it’s a long season, but it’s nice to start off like this and feel like I’m helping the team win.”
Chapman has opened the season on a tear. He entered Tuesday with 12 extra-base hits and was tied with Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco for the major league lead. He added two more on Tuesday with the homer and a double in the sixth.
“His work in the off-season, every day, and his mindset of understanding he doesn’t need to pull it to hit it out, it helps him lay off of some borderline pitches that are down and away, too,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I think it’s just him kind of figuring himself out a little bit.”
