Bassitt hits a career-high 12 to help Blue Jays beat Giants for series win

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run homer and Toronto starter Chris Bassitt struck out a career-high 12 as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Thursday-evening.

With Brandon Belt on board after a two-out walk in the sixth inning, Guerrero put in a 2-2 split by Giants starter Keaton Winn for his 12th homer of the season.

Bassitt gave up three hits and three walks during his six-inning run. Erik Swanson, Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano each threw an inning in relief.

Romano, of Markham, Ont., gave up a leadoff double to Patrick Bailey and an RBI single to Blake Sabol before recording his 24th save.

Toronto (45-37) has won six of its last eight games. The Giants (45-36) have dropped two in a row after winning 10 straight road games.

Winn made his first career start but showed no nerve. He gave up only one hit in the first four innings.

The Rogers Center crowd of 27,761 let out a roar in the third when JD Davis was thrown out by umpire John Tumpane for arguing over a called strike.

Manager Gabe Kapler left the bench to speak his mind and was also ejected.

The interaction continued in the fourth when Tumpane interrupted an at bat to walk to the San Francisco dugout. He briefly exchanged thoughts with bench coach Kai Correa.

Guerrero slammed his bat onto the turf in the bottom half of the frame after Winn (0-1) hit him with a pitch. The ball appeared to get it into the rib area, but the Blue Jays slugger remained in play.

Bassitt, changing his routine to allow catcher Alejandro Kirk to call the game, used his extensive pitching repertoire to his advantage.

The Giants got some chances, but couldn’t deliver the clutch hit they were looking for. Bassitt struckout the side in the sixth inning to bring his pitch count to 104.

In the ninth, Espinal made a brilliant one-hop tag as Sabol tried to steal the second.

Toronto appeared to be in control of the game, but third baseman Matt Chapman made a throwing error that gave the Giants another chance. Romano got Brandon Crawford on a flyout to end it.

The sunroof was open under a blue sky, but there was some lingering smoke from wildfires in the air. The game took two hours and 15 minutes to play.

Kirk was recovered from the 10-day wounded list (left hand tear) earlier in the day. He batted eighth in the lineup.

The Blue Jays will wrap up their nine-game homestand with a weekend series starting Friday night against the Boston Red Sox.

Right-hander Jose Berrios (8-5, 3.60 earned-run average) would start the opener against Boston southpaw James Paxton (3-1, 3.19), a native of Ladner, B.C.

Guerrero Jr. to participate in Home Run Derby

Guerrero has listened to Blue Jays fans – and his family – and returns to the Home Run Derby.

Guerrero will participate in the slugging exhibit at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park on July 10. It will be Guerrero’s second time competing in the event set a record with 91 home runs as a rookie in 2019.

“My family, they’ve been asking me to join for the past two years,” Guerrero said after practicing on Thursday. “They asked me again this year and I said, ‘Okay, if you want me to go, I’ll be there this year.’

LOOK | Guerrero Jr. falls despite historic performance in 2019 HR Derby final:

No Blue Jays were named in the American League roster on Thursday night when the all-star starting rosters were announced.

They will get a second chance on Sunday when the complete all-star rosters, including pitchers and reserve players, will be announced for both teams. Pitchers and reserves – a total of 23 players for each side – will be selected by player ballot and selections by the Commissioner’s Office.