Chris Bassitt struck out 10, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first homer of the season, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
Guerrero had an RBI single to go with his solo home run in the rubber match of the three-game series.
The top two hitters in the Atlanta lineup struck out eight times, four each by Michael Harris II and Austin Riley. No. 3 hitter Matt Olson added three strikeouts to Atlanta’s total of 19, tying a Braves franchise record for a 9-inning game and one shy of matching the MLB record.
Bassitt (2-0) pitched five shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks. He needed 90 pitches, however, and was replaced by Brendon Little in the sixth.
Drake Baldwin hit his first career major league homer in the ninth against Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman, who earned his fourth save.
Braves starter Spencer Strider (0-1) returned from elbow surgery to make his first start since April 5, 2024. His command was not sharp early, but he pitched five-plus innings, allowing two runs, five hits and one walk with five strikeouts on 97 pitches.
Toronto scored in the third. Bo Bichette doubled to the gap in left center and scored when Guerrero grounded a single up the middle. Guerrero helped Strider when he was out trying to steal second.
Olson singled for Atlanta’s first hit to lead off the fourth but was stranded at second when the inning ended on Baldwin’s strikeout.
Atlanta threatened in the fifth when Eli White and Orlando Arcia singled with one out and advanced on a wild pitch. Bassitt escaped with two strikeouts.
Strider recorded his 500th career strikeout when he enticed Addison Barger to chase a 3-2 slider in the bottom half of the fifth.
Strider retired eight in a row before Guerrero led off the sixth by clubbing a flat slider to left to end his homerless drought. Strider walked Anthony Santander next and was replaced by Dylan Lee.
Toronto bumped the lead to three in the seventh when Myles Straw was walked by Pierce Johnson, stole second and scored on Bichette’s double to left.
Toronto reliever Yimi Garcia struck out all four batters he faced in the seventh and eighth.
