Bottom of the lineup fuels Blue Jays to 3-2 victory over Athletics

Gausman began the game going nine up, nine down with six strikeouts. His lone blemish came in the top of the fourth, as he hung a splitter to Shea Langeliers. Not a great pitch, but that was the only base runner he allowed, finishing with 11 strikeouts over six innings.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jeff Hoffman gave up a game-tying home run. It’s better to leave it at that. Thankfully, the Jays won the game, as Okamoto hit a two-out single, Clement hit a double, and Giménez drove in his third run of the game.

Takeaways…

If Kevin Gausman pitches like this for the entire season, he’ll easily be a Cy Young candidate. Throwing six one-hit innings is impressive enough, but also notching 11 strikeouts on just 83 pitches is something you don’t see all that often. Not too shabby for his first Opening Day start as a Blue Jay.

Jeff Hoffman gave up a game-tying home run, which helped lead to one of the funniest stat lines you’ll see. Following the blast, Hoffman’s strike three got away from Alejandro Kirk, giving the Athletics a base runner. He finished with a blown save, the win, and four strikeouts, just the third time in franchise history a pitcher has finished an inning with four strikeouts.

Louis Varland allowed a single then walked a batter to give the Athletics two base runners and no outs. He got out of it with a strikeout and a double play. Tyler Rogers also made his debut, walking a batter but generating three ground ball outs.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had the only other hit from a Blue Jay while also finishing with a walk. Nathan Lukes was their other base runner, reaching thanks to a free pass.

The Jays are right back in action on Saturday at 3:07 PM ET, as Dylan Cease is set to make his Blue Jays debut. Jeffrey Springs is set to get the ball for the Athletics.