Late Meltdown Dooms Athletics, Boosts Blue Jays

Max Muncy of the Athletics stretching for and missing a foul fly ball against the Blue Jays

Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images

March 28, 2026

Blue Jays 8, Athletics 7 (11 innings)

For the first time ever, the Toronto Blue Jays notched a second straight walkoff win to open a season, and this one was even more painful for the Athletics and their supporters. A 6–2 seventh-inning lead evaporated within three half-innings, and an 11th-inning Ernie Clement RBI gave the Blue Jays an 8–7 win.

Both Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs and Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease lasted 5 1/3 innings. Springs allowed two runs, one of which was bequeathed to a reliever, on five hits. He walked three and struck out two. Cease allowed one run on three hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts. Andres Gimenez was the offensive star, going 4-for-5 with an eighth-inning RBI.

Athletics – Blue Jays Game Summary

The Blue Jays took a 1–0 lead in the third on an RBI double to left by George Springer. Tyler Soderstrom tied it up in the sixth with his own RBI double to left. In the bottom of the same inning, a Daulton Varsho single to right reclaimed a Blue Jays lead, 2–1. Denzel Clarke tied it back up in the top of the seventh with a single off reliever Brendon Little. Later in the inning, Shea Langeliers gave the Athletics a seemingly comfortable 6–2 lead with a grand slam off Little.

The Blue Jays began chipping away in the bottom of the seventh. A Vladimir Guerrero Jr single made the score 6–3. Two more RBI singles in the eighth — one by Jesus Sanchez, the other by Gimenez, both off Hogan Harris — made the score 6–5. An Alejandro Kirk homer off Michael Kelly with one out in the bottom of the ninth tied the game at six.

The Athletics took a 7–6 lead in the 10th with a Brent Rooker single off Louis Varland. A sacrifice fly to the wall from Addison Barger off Scott Barlow tied it back up. One inning later, Clement singled off Luis Medina to win it for the Blue Jays.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Starting Pitching

Jeffrey Springs statistically missed a Quality Start by two outs. However, he kept the Athletics in the game — the score was tied, 1–1, when he got the hook.

Shea Bang-a-liers

Langerliers went 2-for-4 with a walk, a grand-slam homer, and four RBI.

Improved Offensive Contributions

Tyler Soderstrom also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with an RBI double. Brent Rooker, Jeff McNeil, Max Muncy, and Denzel Clarke also contributed singles. This is much better than Friday, when everyone not named Langeliers went a combined 0-for-26.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Relief Pitching

The Blue Jays scored at least one run in every inning from the sixth onward. Every reliever either gave up a run, or in the case of one, allowed inherited runners to score. Two relievers allowed both — they were charged with runs and also allowed inherited runners to score.

More Strikeouts Galore

The Athletics struck out 19 times in this game. On Friday, they struck out 16 times. This brings them to 35 for the season, obliterating the franchise record for the first two games of the year. In fact, they surpassed the previous record (23) when making the last out of the fourth. The 35 strikeouts are second-highest in the majors behind the Seattle Mariners (36) — and the Mariners have played one more game than the Athletics.

Some argue that an out is an out, and the way it happens is irrelevant, but that is not true. Strikeouts are the least productive outs in baseball. If a ball is put in play, runners at least have a chance of advancing despite the out. However, unless a stolen base is involved, that is impossible with a strikeout.

Runners Left in Scoring Position

Of the seven runners the Athletics left on base, three were in scoring position. However, it’s the timing that matters more than the volume. In the third inning, with the game scoreless, Soderstrom struck out with the bases loaded. The sixth inning struck an even deeper blow. With the score tied 1–1, runners on the corners, and one out, Jacob Wilson grounded into a 6–4–3 double play. And in the 11th, Denzel Clarke flied to right with runners on first and second and two outs.

Did Not Add to Lead

The runners left in scoring position prevented the Athletics from taking the lead in each case. But once they did take the lead after the Langeliers grand slam in the seventh, they did not add to it. That came because no Athletics player even reached base again until the 10th. Furthermore, the only runners to reach scoring position were the automatic runners that started the 10th and 11th innings at second base.

Hall-of-Fame Company

Langeliers is the second Athletics player in franchise history to hit three homers across the first two games of the season. The other was Hall of Famer Al Simmons in 1930. Langeliers has also tied the record for most homers while playing catcher in his team’s first two games of a season since 1900. The other was Hall of Famer Mike Piazza (2004).

Looking Ahead

Spencer Miles (1–0) earned the win for the Blue Jays as Luis Medina (0–1) took the loss for the Athletics, both in relief.

The Athletics (0–2) and Blue Jays (2–0) will close their three-game series Sunday. Right-hander Luis Morales (4–3, 3.14 ERA in 2025) will start for the Athletics, facing Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer (9–2, 3.18 ERA in 2025). First pitch will be at 10:37 am Pacific.