Instant Reaction: Blue Jays bats stay quiet, bullpen implodes in 9-1 loss to Dodgers

However, Bassitt would allow home runs to Max Muncy and Shohei Ohtani between the fourth and fifth innings to put Toronto in a 3-0 hole. Bassitt, who allowed home runs to both Muncy and Ohtani last season, was unable to get out of the fifth inning and would leave the game at just 68 pitches and in line for the loss.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters after the game that he felt like he could’ve kept Bassitt out there longer, but with the Dodgers starting to have better at-bats against Bassitt and Schneider “[having] guys in the ‘pen who needed to throw,” he opted to let his relievers take the game from there. All told, Bassitt allowed six hits, three earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

Yariel Rodríguez recorded the final out of the inning, but he would allow the first four batters of the sixth inning to reach base before being pulled for Seranthony Domínguez. A wild pitch, two walks, and two hits later, and the Dodgers had compiled a six-run inning and built a 9-0 lead over the Blue Jays. After getting most of the high-leverage arms a good amount of rest during the Colorado series, the Blue Jays have gotten poor outings from Rodríguez, Domínguez, and Brendon Little to start this weekend, with those three combining for five hits, nine earned runs, and five walks through one frame total.

While the pitching had its miscues, Toronto’s offense didn’t give the Dodgers too much of a scare.

The Blue Jays generated just five hits on the night with nine batters left on base and a 0-for-6 mark with runners in scoring position. Furthermore, Toronto’s first five starting hitters combined to go 2-for-18, with both hits (including a solo home run) coming from Ernie Clement. Conversely, Los Angeles’s first five hitters in their starting lineup posted a 6-for-20 line with two homers and five RBIs.

The Blue Jays will look to take the final game of the series tomorrow with Eric Lauer on the bump. The Dodgers will counter with Tyler Glasnow, who is taking the place of Yoshinobu Yamamoto after the Dodgers decided to give him another day of rest. With the Red Sox losing as well on Saturday night, the Blue Jays maintained their three-game lead in the AL East standings.