Chris Bassitt throws Blue Jays’ first nine-inning complete game shutout since 2015 in win over Atlanta

Chris Bassitt understood the assignment on Friday night.

The Atlanta Braves sent Spencer Strider, one of the best young pitchers in baseball, to the mound for the opening game of this weekend’s three-game series. Strider pitched well, as he allowed two runs and struck out 12 batters over six-and-two-thirds innings, but Bassitt was the better arm in this duel. He went nine shutout innings and scattered just two hits and two walks.

When Bassitt struck out his former Oakland A’s battery-mate Sean Murphy to finish the game, he became the first Blue Jay to toss a nine-inning complete game shutout since Mark Buehrle did so against the Washington Nationals in June of 2015.

Toronto scored their first run on Strider in the fifth inning as Whit Merrifield singled and stole second and was driven home by George Springer. They managed another run in the seventh inning when Brandon Belt doubled and pinch-runner Nathan Lukes scored on a passed ball. Their third run came in the eighth inning when Daulton Varsho launched a solo homer off of Blue Jays legend Kirby Yates.

It was a huge win for the Blue Jays after an ugly finish to a difficult road trip. The Braves came into the weekend with the best record in the National League while the Blue Jays entered Friday eight games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the ultra-competitive American League East.