Blue Jays Complete the Sweep, Down the A’s 5-2
TORONTO, ON- MARCH 29 - left fielder Jesús Sánchez #12 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two run homer in the third inning as the Toronto Blue Jays play the Athletics at Rogers Centre in Toronto. March 29, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images The first two games of the season were a ton of fun, but it’s nice to keep the drama a little lower sometimes.
Everyobody looked pretty good today, from Eric Lauer and the bullpen holding the A’s to two runs on five hits against 15 strikeouts, to the power bats showing up to the tune of three home runs. A season opening sweep is, by definition, the best start you can have. Eric Lauer came out of the blocks looking like he wasn’t going to let Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease outshine him just because they throw 8mph harder.
He struck out the side in the first, picked up another in the second, another in the third, and one more to lead off the fourth before a Nick Kurtz walk gave the A’s their first baserunner. His seventh closed out the inning without the A’s scoring. Sacramento got some back in the fifth, as Jacob Wilson lead off with a line drive double and (not that) Max Muncy went yard the other way, cutting Toronto’s lead to 4-2.
It was a brief blip, though, and he got two more Ks and a pop out to end the inning there. Lauer returned to start the sixth, getting a fly out and counceding a ground ball single up the middle. At 87 pitches, John Schneider decided to call his afternoon there, pulling him in favour of Braydon Fisher.
Ultimately, Lauer only managed 9 Ks, while giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over 5. 1 innings pitched. I guess that’s why he’s only a swingman.