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Toronto continues offensive slumber, Bassitt bounced early in embarrassing 13-0 defeat to Rays
Published May 25, 2025 • 4 minute read
Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a homer.
Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a two-run home run during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (Photo by ) Photo by Mark Taylor /Getty Images
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The Raptors experienced the Tampa tank during the NBA’s COVID season in 2020 that ultimately landed the franchise Scottie Barnes.
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The Blue Jays experienced their own tank job against the host Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field, but the only thing Toronto received was a heavy dose of embarrassment.
On a sun-drenched day when the tricky elements wreaked havoc on both teams, the Jays were rendered completely and utterly red-faced in a stunning 13-0 defeat. And to think the Jays lost the opening two games by identical 3-1 outcomes.
The damage came early Sunday, but it was in the fifth inning when the ridicule set in as the Jays gave up a season-high seven runs in a single inning. Only the most delusional observer could glean anything to take forward as the Jays head to Texas.
Comical, regrettable, it would be easy to blame it all on the venue and all its vagaries, but the bottom line is the Jays offence was non-existent in all three games, while the pitching was decent until Sunday’s series finale when the defence turned minor-league calibre.
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In six games versus the Rays this season, the Jays have gone 1-5. Following the ugly events, the Jays moved two games under .500 (25-27), while Tampa moved to .500 (26-26).
In the wake of Toronto’s latest defeat at the hands of Tampa, here are three takeaways on a day the Jays gave up the most runs they’ve surrendered this season, a stifling afternoon when Michael Stefanic threw a perfect bottom of the eighth after he also appeared at second base and shortstop; just to complete the day, he singled in the ninth inning, Toronto’s fourth hit of the game.
Chris Bassitt of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch.
Chris Bassitt of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, May 25, 2025 in Tampa, Fla. Photo by Mark Taylor /Getty Images
1. Bassitt hounded
In Saturday’s loss, Jose Berrios gave up a three-run home run in the first inning. He then pitched five scoreless innings.
In Sunday’s start, Chris Bassitt, who had been pitching well this season and was tasked with embracing the stopper role, yielded a two-run home run as the Jays again found themselves in an early deficit that only got worse.
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What made this long ball memorable was that it came off the bat of Brandon Lowe, who has moved into the handful of Jays killers featuring the likes of Baltimore teammates Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman and Seattle’s Cal Raleigh.
Of Lowe’s 10 homers this season, four have come against the Blue Jays. His career total of 20 homers versus the Blue Jays is the most he has hit against any team.
The ever-competitive Bassitt simply did not have it on this day in going a season-low four innings. At least he found refuge from the sun and humidity when his day came to its merciful end.
Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe beats the tag at home.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Brandon Lowe, left, beats the tag at home plate by Toronto Blue Jays catcher Ali Sanchez (20) to score a run during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack /AP Photo
2. Catch me if you can
The Jays might be longing for the days when their depth behind the plate was amongst the best in baseball, a stable of catchers featuring Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno.
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Moreno was traded to Arizona, while Jansen’s road out of Toronto has landed the veteran in Tampa following a pit stop in Boston.
Kirk has been fine, but he can’t catch every day and certainly not on a stifling day game following a night game.
When Tyler Heineman took two foul tips flush off his mask last Thursday against the San Diego Padres, one knew some kind of residual effect would be felt.
Perhaps to the surprise of no one, the Jays placed Heineman on the seven-day concussion injured list before Sunday’s first pitch.
The Jays started Ali Sanchez, who was called up, while lefty pitcher Josh Walker was designated for assignment.
In the first inning, Sanchez appeared to lose track of the outs, the first sign of trouble for a player who looked overwhelmed.
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Overall, it was a truly horrific day for the entire team.
Toronto Blue Jays' Jonatan Clase runs the bases.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Jonatan Clase runs the bases against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, May 23, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. Photo by Chris O'Meara /AP Photo
3. Clase closed
If you recall, the piece the Jays received when they shipped reliever Yimi Garcia to Seattle at last year’s trade deadline was Jonatan Clase.
Clase isn’t an everyday player, at least for now, but he has shown flashes of evolving into one. He can put the ball in play, is more than capable of stealing bases and isn’t a bad outfielder.
With any youthful player, so much resides between the ears.
There’s no better teacher than experience and the hope is Clase learns from an unconventional route he took in left field. The hope is he learns from getting picked off at first base after reaching base on a single.
Given the brutality of Sunday, the hope is the Jays quickly forget what happened the last three games, which came after the Jays swept San Diego to complete a 5-4 homestand.
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