A’s Bullpen Implodes in 8-7 Extra Inning Loss to Blue Jays

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 28: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics hits a grand slam home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on March 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Athletics’ rough season-opening series continued this afternoon as the team’s bullpen blew a late four-run lead to the Toronto Blue Jays, who ultimately prevailed 8-7 in 11 innings. This game started out slowly as both A’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs and his Blue Jays counterpart Dylan Cease pitched well in the game’s early going.

The only run the Blue Jays got off of Springs came in the third inning. Outfielder Myles Straw and shortstop Andrés Giménez led off that inning with singles and then veteran designated hitter George Springer doubled to left, scoring Straw to give Toronto a 1-0 lead. Springs limited the damage, getting first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr and catcher Alejandro Kirk out to keep the A’s deficit at one.

Cease showed why Toronto shelled out over $200 million to sign him as he struck out 12 A’s batters over 5 1/3 innings, a record breaking performance for a pitcher making his Blue Jays debut. He was especially dominant in the fourth and fifth innings during which he struck out six straight hitters. The A’s finally got to Cease in the sixth inning.

First baseman Nick Kurtz walked to leadoff the inning, stole second and then scored the game-tying run on left fielder Tyler Soderstrom’s opposite-field double down the left field line. Tie-ler Soderstrom 😤 pic. twitter.