That was a fun game.
On Sunday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays played the fourth and final game of the series against the Baltimore Orioles, defeating the fellow American League East bird team 3-1 to move their season record to 2-2. Let’s take a look at what happened in this game!
As per usual, the Blue Jays allowed the opening run as Chris Bassitt threw a wild pitch in the top of the first to put the Orioles up 1-0. It didn’t last long, though, as George Springer hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first that scored two runs for a 2-1 lead.
George Springer gives the @BlueJays the lead with a two-run single ✌️ pic.twitter.com/MKbh7dn3jj
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 30, 2025
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The score stayed that way for a while until the bottom of the seventh. For the first time since 2019, Tyler Heineman hit a home run to give the Blue Jays an insurance run for the 3-1 lead.
The Clubhouse Magician just made this ball ✨ DISAPPEAR ✨
Heineman’s FIRST as a Blue Jay! pic.twitter.com/jdx81CJhLw
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2025
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Takeaways…
For the fourth time in as many games, the Blue Jays allowed the opening run, and not just that, but the opening run has come three times before they’ve even batted. That’s something that needs improvement.
What a nice surprise, Andrés Giménez has been through the first series. Although he didn’t hit a home run on Sunday, he hit his first double and made a nice play at second base in the top of the ninth.
Middle of the diamond’s closed, boys pic.twitter.com/3YMkwjkmra
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2025
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Aside from Giménez’s two home runs, Tyler Heineman is the other Blue Jay who has hit a home run this season. Not Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, or Anthony Santander. Just Heineman and Giménez. Who saw that coming after the first Blue Jays series?
Digging deeper into Heineman’s home run, the pitcher, Cionel Pérez, has now given up 16 home runs in the big leagues since his first pitch in 2018. The last time Pérez had given up a home run was on May 31, 2023, when he gave up two home runs in the same game. Heineman made it count with a nice little bat flip as well.
Tyler Heineman, we were unfamiliar with your game 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Wn6DQ81j0Y
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2025
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George Springer has had a good start to his season, slashing .364/.462/.455 with no home runs in 13 plate appearances. On Sunday, he hit his first double of the season and now has a 165 wRC+. After the Blue Jays’ first series in 2024, Springer was slashing .188/.278/.563 with two home runs in 18 plate appearances for a 134 wRC+.
Chris Bassitt started the game for the Blue Jays, pitching six innings with eight hits allowed but just one earned run. He also struck out seven batters and pitched a quality start. First out of the bullpen was Brendon Little, who generated two ground balls. It’s nice to see him back.
Yariel Rodríguez had a nice bounce-back game, as he struck out two in his inning of work while allowing just one run. He also picked up his first career hold in Major League Baseball. On top of that, Jeff Hoffman picked up his first save as a Blue Jay, striking out two in his inning of work.
The Blue Jays return to action on Monday, starting their series against the Washington Nationals at 7:07 PM ET. Bowden Francis is expected to start that game for the Jays.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.