Chris Bassitt was traded to the New York Mets on March 12, 2022 and in his only season in New York, he won 15 games, while posting a 3.42 ERA through 30 starts. The right hander did not fair too well in the postseason, losing the only game he appeared in. On November 7th, Bassitt filed for free agency and on December 16th, he signed three-year $63 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
In Bassitt’s first start in Queens, since the 6-0 defeat to the San Diego Padres in the 2022 Wild Card Series, he stifled the Mets offense for 7.2 innings, allowing no runs on three hits, with no walks, while striking out eight batters.
The Blue Jays jumped out to a 1-0 lead on George Springer‘s lead-off home run in the first inning off Justin Verlander. Bassitt allowed a two out double in the bottom of the frame, before inducing a pop out off the bat of Pete Alonso.
After the first inning, runs were hard to come by for each team, as both pitchers put up zeros. Bassitt had the upper-hand on Verlander as he refused to allow the Mets to cross the plate.
Chris Bassitt brought his A-game back to New York. pic.twitter.com/hO52PKgryD
— MLB (@MLB) June 3, 2023
In the bottom of the second, Bassitt struck out the side. After Mark Canha opened up the bottom of the third with a lead-off single, Francisco Alvarez then reached base on an error, but Bassitt retired the next three batters to end the threat.
Through the next 3.2 innings, Bassitt retired 14 straight batters before a two out single off the bat of Starling Marte. Marte then stole his 17th base on the season, but Bassitt was able to get Mark Vientos to hit into an inning ending groundout.
In the Bottom of the eighth, Bassitt retired the first two batters before being pulled to end his night.
The Blue Jays added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to extend the Jays lead to 3-0, while Jordan Romano shut down the Mets to secure the shutout victory and earn his 14th save.
Bassitt threw 101 pitches, 64 for strikes, and had six flyball outs, and five flyouts to go along with his eight strikeouts, while improving is record to 6-4.
It was just a dominating pitching performance for Bassitt, who needed it, after two previous rough starts, and his first victory since May 12th.
