Jesus Sanchez hit a two-run home run Sunday afternoon as the Toronto Blue Jays went deep three times to defeat the visiting Athletics 5-2.
George Springer and Kazuma Okamoto hit solo shots for the Blue Jays, who swept the three-game season-opening series.
Max Muncy hit a two-run home run for the Athletics, who struck out 50 times in the series.
After Toronto left-hander Eric Lauer (1-0) struck out the side in the first, Springer led off the home first with a home run to left on a first-pitch fastball from Luis Morales (0-1). It was his 64th career leadoff homer.
Tyler Heineman singled with one out in the third and Sanchez lined a homer to center with two out.
Okamoto led off the fourth with a home run to right center on a 1-0 fastball. It was his first major league homer after being signed as a free agent from Japan.
The Athletics struck back in the fifth. Jacob Wilson led off with a double to left center, the Athletics first hit of the game and his first hit of the season. Muncy followed by homering to right on a first-pitch fastball.
Morales had two walks and a strikeout in the home fifth before J.T. Ginn replaced him. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded a single to left to load the bases. Ginn walked Addison Barger to force in a run. Okamoto bounced into a double play to end the rally.
Morales allowed five runs, five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Braydon Fisher replaced Lauer after Nick Kurtz’s one-out single in the sixth.
Lauer allowed two runs, three hits and a walk while striking out nine in 5 1/3 innings.
Fisher retired five straight before Tommy Nance took over in the eighth. Mason Fluharty replaced Nance after Shea Langeliers singled with two out and ended the inning with a strikeout.
Jeff Hoffman pitched around a single in the ninth to earn his first save in two opportunities.
Ginn gave the Athletics’ beleaguered bullpen a break, allowing a single and a walk in 3 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
