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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays beat Chris Bassitt and the Orioles to take the first game of the series
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Photo credit: © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Aidan Sinclair
May 29, 2026, 07:10 EDT
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It took just two runs yet again, but the Blue Jays were able to hang on and win in a pitcher’s duel, facing a familiar face in Baltimore.
The bats were quiet for the most part, but the pitching staff continued to dominate, having allowed just four runs in their last 27 innings. Let’s take a look at what happened in this game. 
It was Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Blue Jays, coming off his best start of the season last time out against the Pirates, pitching six innings of one-run ball, and racking up seven strikeouts, also the most in an outing this season. Once again, Corbin cruised through five innings, needing just 80 pitches and allowing just one run with four strikeouts. 
The southpaw worked himself into and out of a jam in the first inning, stranding runners at second and third base with nobody out, getting Pete Alsono and Coby Mayo to strikeout and keeping the Orioles off the board early. The only damage on the night came via a Mayo home run in the fourth inning, the only run the Orioles would score in the contest. It was another overall solid outing for Corbin, who picked up his third win of the season, now holding a 3.65 ERA on the season. 
Chris Bassitt was on the mound for the Orioles, making a start against the Blue Jays for the first time since his days with the Oakland Athletics back in 2021. It has been a struggle to begin the 2026 campaign for the now 37-year-old, coming into this game with a 5.51 ERA across 10 games. 
Bassitt cruised through two scoreless innings before Andres Gimenez launched a hanging curveball out to right field for his sixth home run of the year, giving the Blue Jays an early 1-0 lead in the third. That was all Bassitt surrendered on the night, going six innings of one-run ball, striking out just two but only walking one and allowing just four hits. 
It wasn’t until the top of the eighth that the Blue Jays would get back on the board, loading the bases for Yohendrick Pinango, who made a pinch-hit appearance for Myles Straw, drawing a walk and forcing in the second and final run of the night. Overall, the Blue Jays were out-hit by the Orioles 8-6 on the night, but managed just enough offence to hang on for a 2-1 victory, now sitting just one game under .500. 
Braydon Fisher and Jeff Hoffman both worked clean innings in this game, while Tyler Rogers collected two outs before being hit on the foot at the top of the eighth. He was removed from the game for Louis Varland, who picked up a four-out save – his eighth of the season, lowering his ERA on the year to 0.30. The most notable of his four outs came in the top of the eighth, when Brandon Valenzuela back-picked Pete Alonso at first base, stranding multiple baserunners in what was setting up to be a run-scoring opportunity for the Orioles. 
The Blue Jays have yet to announce who will be starting Friday’s game in Baltimore, though Chad Dallas figures to be an option, having missed his most recent start for the Buffalo Bisons. Connor Seabold and Austin Voth have both been recently added to the active roster as well, setting up the second game of this series to potentially be a bullpen game. It will be Trevor Rogers on the mound for the Orioles as the game gets underway at 7:05 pm EST on Friday.

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