George Springer homers as the Blue Jays beat the sliding White Sox 5

CHICAGO (AP) — George Springer, Bo Bichette and Davis Schneider homered, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the lowly Chicago White Sox 5-1 on Monday.

Chris Bassitt struck out seven in five scoreless innings as Toronto stopped a three-game slide. The 35-year-old right-hander allowed five hits and walked none against his first major league team.

Bassitt (5-6) has been dealing with neck spasms that put his start in jeopardy.

“I was kind of able to figure out where I needed to go mechanically, just throw my strikes,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to go five innings, I’ll tell you that.”

Springer connected in the second inning after Daulton Varsho reached on a two-out walk against Nick Nastrini. It was Springer’s fourth homer of the season.

Bichette led off the fourth with his fourth homer, a 419-foot drive to center.

“They were swinging the bat real well,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Through tough times, guys tend to get a little bit closer, good teams do at least, and I think they’re doing that.”