HOUSTON -- Chris Bassitt struggled for a second straight outing to begin the season, and Toronto hitters were limited to one hit as the Blue Jays fell to the Astros, 8-0, on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.

After a no-hitter on Monday and Wednesday's one-hit outing, the Blue Jays became just the fourth team to be no-hit and one-hit during the same regular-season series in the live-ball era (since 1920), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“We’re not doing much damage on balls we’re putting in play right now,” manager John Schneider said. “That’s been the story of this series. It’s good pitching. You want to do a little bit more, but you move on.”

Despite mustering one hit, the Blue Jays had traffic on the bases, as they worked seven walks. It was the third game this season in which Toronto walked at least seven times. The club has 29 walks so far this season, good for second in the American League behind the Yankees' 30.

However, Toronto finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Dalton Varsho had the Blue Jays’ lone hit, a one-out double in the second, but he was stranded as Alejandro Kirk and Kevin Kiermaier both flied out.

Toronto scored two runs for the whole series -- both on a Davis Schneider two-run homer with two outs in the ninth on Tuesday to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 win on an eight-hit night.

“That pitching is good,” John Schneider said of the Astros. “I think they have the best ERA a week in for their starters in the league. You don’t want to say it’s early, because every game matters. It’s not for a lack of effort. It’s not for a lack of anything.

“These guys can hit. We have a really talented group. We have all the confidence in the world they’re going to hit. It’s a tough series. You don’t want to make any knee-jerk reactions. These guys are professionals, and they’re going to be ready on Friday.”

The Blue Jays only had six hard-hit balls, which are characterized as anything with an exit velocity of over 95 mph, but all of them were for outs. Varsho’s double had an exit velocity of 77.7 mph.

Toronto saw more changeups from the Astros, which is something Schneider said the team will have to adjust to.

“We’re well aware of it obviously, but you got to put better swings on it really,” Schneider said. “It’s an adjustment game. More changeups tonight than it was the first night, but it just comes down to getting a good pitch and not missing it. I think we missed a couple and didn’t really put our best swings on a couple. Again, tip your hat. It was a tough series for us.”

It was a tough one for Bassitt, too.

The Blue Jays' starter allowed four runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. It was far from a great outing, but Schneider credited Bassitt for keeping his team within striking distance.

“Wiggled out of traffic early, made big pitches,” Schneider said. “It’s kind of what he does. I think he kind of ran out of pitches at the end. … Chris is going to keep you in the game every single time out.”

Bassitt surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts over five innings in his first start, a loss on March 29 against the Rays.

“It is what it is,” Bassitt said. “I have to pitch better.”

Bassitt relied mostly on his sinker on Wednesday night, throwing it 43% of the time (39 of 91 pitches). He mixed in the cutter 18% of the time and threw the curveball 13% of the time.

“Overall, I felt I made some good pitches,” Bassitt said. “They made really good swings.”

The Blue Jays fell to 1-4 when scoring two runs or fewer this season.

For now, Toronto is ready to get to New York and enjoy Thursday’s off day before facing the Yankees Friday.

“These guys like playing in New York,” Schneider said. “It's Opening Weekend [for the Yankees] and all that stuff. I think an off-day is good. You’re a week into it, and you want to flush this series and get out of town, enjoy the day tomorrow and come out on the weekend.”