This week’s homestand is off to a positive start. The Toronto Blue Jays kicked off a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-2 win.

Chris Bassitt got the start for Toronto and put together one of his best outings of the season. The right-hander went seven-plus innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out a season-high nine batters.

The Orioles didn’t have a hit through five-and-one-third innings until Jackson Holliday broke up Bassitt’s early no-hit bit with a solo home run, the third of his big-league career and second against the Blue Jays. Bassitt got the next two outs to finish off the sixth inning and got some help getting through the seventh, as Daulton Varsho robbed Gunnar Henderson of what looked to be a sure double off the wall in right-centre field.

The Blue Jays got all of their offence during a five-run bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. punched a ball into right field to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. Spencer Horwitz kept the inning going with a single and then Alejandro Kirk put the Blue Jays in front with a three-run bomb. Addison Barger hit a two-run double later in the inning to extend Toronto’s lead to 5-1.

Bassitt came out for the eighth inning and was pulled after allowing a walk and two singles. Genesis Cabrera was put into the game with the bases loaded and walked the first batter but struck out Ramon Urias and Coby Mayo before getting Anthony Santander to ground out to end the inning. After that, Chad Green pitched a clean ninth inning to finish off the game.

Up next… The Blue Jays and Orioles will play the second game of this series on Wednesday evening. Bowden Francis will start for the Blue Jays and the Orioles will send trade deadline acquisition Trevor Rogers to the mound.