The Toronto Blue Jays snapped a six-game losing streak Monday with a 2-1 win over the New York Mets at Rogers Centre, but the night belonged to Bo Bichette, who returned to his former home ballpark for the first time since leaving the club in the off-season.
Bichette, now the Mets' third baseman, fought back tears while speaking with a large media gathering in the visitors' dugout before the game. Asked what kind of reception he expected from Toronto fans, he paused for roughly 20 seconds before answering.
I don't know what to expect. I think I gave it everything I had. I just hope that's appreciated.
The crowd's answer came quickly. Fans filled the stadium wearing Bichette's old No. 11 Blue Jays jersey, and the team played a tribute on the video board before first pitch, which Bichette watched from the field near the right-field line to a loud ovation. When he walked to the plate in the first inning, the cheers grew louder still, and Bichette removed his helmet to acknowledge the fans.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who managed Bichette at several minor-league levels and for part of his seven big-league seasons in Toronto, said he watched video of the pre-game interview and felt the fan response was earned.
Appreciated what he said in terms of he hopes that everyone understands he left it all out there, which he did. And I thought it was cool that our fans recognized him and rightfully so. It took (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) to get him to take his helmet off. But I thought the reaction was really, really well deserved.
The 28-year-old became a free agent after a World Series that featured his Game 7 home run off Shohei Ohtani, then signed a three-year, $126-million deal with the Mets in January. He said he had a feeling late in the process that a return to Toronto wasn't in the cards.
I don't think there's regrets. I think at the end of the day it just didn't line up for whatever reason.
Asked whether the three-game series was a chance to show the Blue Jays what they were missing, Bichette declined the framing.
No, I think this is an opportunity for me to reflect on good times.
Yesavage steady as Toronto stops the slide
On the field, Bichette went 0-for-4, with three of those at-bats coming against Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage, according to Sportsnet. Yesavage held the Mets to a single run — a Francisco Lindor solo home run in the seventh — while allowing three hits, striking out three and walking none, with a fastball that topped out at 96.2 m.p.h.
I'd rather go out there and give up homers, solo homers, than walk the house. That's what happened today. I'm happy with it.
His outing ended a stretch in which Toronto starters had put the team behind early in six consecutive games.
The Blue Jays got their first run in unusual fashion. George Springer dropped a ball into left field that bounced past Juan Soto and reached the wall, and a bobble by centre-fielder A.J. Ewing let Springer come all the way around to score. Myles Straw added a sacrifice fly in the fifth that held up as the winner.
Springer, who signed with Toronto before the 2021 season and played alongside Bichette, said seeing his former teammate in a different uniform stirred mixed emotions.
It's awesome. It's sad. It's great. It is everything. I love Bo and he was so good to me while he was here. He was so good for us as a team, for the organization, and he means the world to that locker room. So, to see him here today in another jersey, it was tough, but it's OK. I'm happy for him.
The three-game series between the two clubs continues at Rogers Centre this week.
