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Perhaps as a precursor of harsher reaction to come, there was a rocky reception for Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre.
In his first game appearance since his controversial sharing of an anti-LGBTQ+ Instagram post earlier in the week, the right hander was roundly booed by a sellout crowd of 42,205 at the Rogers Centre.
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The noise began as Bass was warming in the Toronto bullpen, increased as he ran out to the mound to pitch the ninth inning and grew louder as he began to throw, in particular after he walked the first Milwaukee Brewers batter he faced.
Given the timing of the Bass controversy, it’s unlikely to be an easy month for the reliever. The Jays have extensive Pride month activities planned, including Pride Weekend on June 9-10.
The reaction on Wednesday built as more in the large crowd realized what was happening and was sustained throughout his appearance. It’s clear that the controversy isn’t going to blow over swiftly for Bass or the Jays, who have not made Bass available to the media for questions.
Bass apologized for his actions on Tuesday in a statement to the media but he did not take questions afterwards. Jays management opted against any discipline of Bass, who had one strikeout and a walk in his one inning of work on Wednesday.
The Jays wrap up a brief three-game homestand against the Brewers on Thursday afternoon at the Rogers Centre before travelling to New York for a weekend series against the Mets.