Blue Jays walk off Athletics to take opener

Andres Gimenez knocked a walkoff single to center in the ninth inning Friday night, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Athletics 3-2.

Gimenez also had a two-run triple in the fifth.

Shea Langeliers tied the game for the Athletics with one out in the ninth by hitting his second homer of the game, a blast to center against closer Jeff Hoffman (1-0). Langeliers also singled, going 3-for-4.

With two out in the home ninth, Justin Sterner (0-1) allowed Kazuma Okamoto's second single of the game and Clement's chopped double to left to set the stage for Gimenez.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman struck out 11, the most by a Blue Jay pitcher on Opening Day. He allowed one run, one hit and no walks in six strong innings.

Gausman retired his first 10 batters of the game, seven of them on strikeouts, before Langeliers lined a homer to the left-field bullpen on a 3-1 splitter with one out in the fourth. He retired his final eight batters of the outing.

Athletics right-hander Luis Severino allowed only a walk in his first three innings before working out of trouble in the fourth. Nathan Lukes walked and took second when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded a single to right. The potential rally fizzled, however, when Addison Barger hit a double-play grounder to shortstop and Alejandro Kirk grounded out to shortstop.

Toronto scored twice in the fifth inning with the help of an outfield mistake. Okamoto walked with one out and advanced to third while Clement slid into second on a double to left. Gimenez tripled after left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and center fielder Denzel Clarke hesitated and let his fly ball drop in, allowing runners to scamper home.

Severino allowed two runs, three hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings before Scott Barlow took over.

Louis Varland replaced Gausman in the seventh and allowed a leadoff single to Langeliers, followed by a walk to Soderstrom. He worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a double-play grounder.

Hoffman struck out four in the ninth around the home run. Soderstrom reached first on a wild pitch on one of the strikeouts. Another strikeout came on a successful challenge.

--Field Level Media