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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays walk-off Athletics for second consecutive game
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Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 28, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 28, 2026, 19:04 EDT
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A walk-off a day keeps the doctor away.
On Saturday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays hosted the Athletics for the second game of the season. This was essentially a tale of two games, with a pitcher’s duel in the first half and a high-scoring game late. In the end the Jays walked off their second consecutive game thanks to an 8-7 victory. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Myles Straw led off the inning with a single, and was moved to second thanks to a single from Andrés Giménez. That brought up George Springer to the plate, who hit an RBI double to make it 1-0.
Cease’s lone blemish in this game came in his final inning, the top of the sixth. Nick Kurtz led off the inning with a walk and was driven in by Tyler Soderstrom on a bloop double. Their next turn up, the Blue Jays regained their lead, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came in to score thanks to Daulton Varsho single.
Then, the top of the seventh happened. Mason Fluharty entered the game and was hit back with a comebacker, allowing the batter to reach. Three pitches later, Fluharty was hit with a comebacker for the second time, forcing him to leave the game with runners on first and second and no outs.
In came Brendon Little, who got Andy Ibáñez to strikeout, but gave up an RBI single to Denzel Clarke, a walk, and a grand slam for a five-run inning. Little didn’t finish the inning. But just like last season, the Blue Jays rallied to get back into it.
Jesús Sánchez led off the bottom of the seventh with a hit by pitch and was moved to second with an Andrés Giménez single. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Sánchez to make it 6-3. Then, a pair of walks, an out, and single gave the Jays the bases loaded. Sánchez hit a single to drive in a run, followed by Giménez’s third hit of the game, driving in his fourth run of the season.
Guerrero Jr. had the chances with the bases loaded, but lined out to give the Jays just three outs. After Kazuma Okamoto struck out to begin the bottom of the ninth, Alejandro Kirk stepped up with just two outs left. He proceeded to hit the Blue Jays’ first home run of the season to tie it at six.
In extra innings, the teams traded a run in the top of the 10th, but the Jays got a scoreless inning from Spencer Miles in the top of the 11th. That set up a chance for Ernie Clement to walk it off, driving the ball into the outfield to score Nathan Lukes.

Takeaways…

Dylan Cease broke the record for the most strikeouts in a Blue Jays debut, amassing 12 of them over five and one-third innings. He allowed one hard-hit ball, a single in the top of the third. Alongside Kevin Gausman’s 11 strikeout game on Friday, the two starters became the first two pitchers to record 11 or more strikeouts in the first two games of the season.
There’s something about Andrés Giménez in March. Last season, he hit .333/.455/.944 with three home runs and two doubles in 22 plate appearances. So far this season, he’s six for eight with a triple and a walk.
The Jays’ offence was a bit concerning for about the first 15 innings of the season, but their offence came on after the grand slam. Overall, they had 14 hits, with every starter aside from Davis Schneider getting a hit. Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement each all had a two-hit game, with Clement’s hit being of the walk-off variety.
Although Schneider didn’t register a hit, the left fielder/second baseman made a terrific diving catch to save a hit.
This game wasn’t perfect by any means. The team’s pitching was hit or miss following Cease’s departure, with Braydon Fisher getting a double play. Mason Fluharty was hit with back-to-back comebackers and had to leave the game. Both those runs and three more came in to score with Brendon Little on the mound.
Tommy Nance was solid, striking out a batter in his inning and one-third of work, while Tyler Rogers struck out two in his inning. Louis Varland struggled with command, allowing an unearned run to score in the top of the 10th.
Spencer Miles made his big league debut in a big spot, inheriting the ghost runner in the top of the 11th. The first batter hit a comebacker, with Miles starting a rundown to get the first out. He then picked up his first career strikeout with an 88.9 mph slider. Miles got out of the inning unscathed thanks to a fly out and was given the win.
With the win, the Blue Jays won their first two games of the season for the first time since 2022. They also picked up the series win. Ideally, there are fewer stressful games coming up, even though walk-offs are awesome.
The two teams will play the series finale on Sunday at 1:37 PM ET. Making his first start of the season is left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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