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Hernandez leads Blue Jays to wild 10-8 win in Toronto’s first home opener since 2019

TORONTO – Teoscar Hernandez had a three-run blast and scored the game-winning run because the Toronto Blue Jays rallied for a raucous 10-8 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday.

Danny Jansen added some insurance coverage with an eighth-inning homer as Toronto (1-0) received its dwelling opener.

It was the primary time the Blue Jays had hosted a house opener at Rogers Centre since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jose Berrios gave up 4 runs in only a third of an inning as Toronto’s Opening Day starter escaped with a no choice.

Seven relievers got here out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, with Adam Cimber recording the win and Jordan Romano of close by Markham, Ont., incomes the save.

Mitch Garver’s two-run dwelling run within the second inning helped Texas (0-1) construct a 6-0 lead by the second inning. Brad Miller and Adolis Garcia had solo blasts for the guests.

Jon Grey struck out 4 however allowed three runs over 4 innings for the Rangers. Dennis Santana, certainly one of 4 Texas relievers, took the loss.

It was the Blue Jays’ first dwelling opener since 2019, as COVID-19 restrictions pressured the membership to play the entire 2020 season and most of 2021 in Dunedin, Fla., and Buffalo, N.Y. When the staff did return to Toronto late final summer time Ontario nonetheless had capability limits in place for many venues, limiting the cavernous Rogers Centre to only 15,000 followers.

Consequently, Toronto’s core of younger stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio had by no means skilled a real Blue Jays dwelling opener till Friday.

“It is one thing that the majority of us have been interested by since we obtained right here,” Bichette mentioned on Thursday. “So it is my fourth yr, first one, and could not be extra excited.”

Bichette’s cohort obtained the total expertise on Friday with a crowd of 45,022 at Rogers Centre, the primary sellout at Toronto’s ballpark since March 29, 2018.

A prolonged pre-game ceremony saved the group on its ft for greater than 35 minutes. Guerrero, Hernandez, and Marcus Semien – who signed with Texas within the low season after enjoying for the Blue Jays final yr – formally obtained their Silver Slugger awards.

Guerrero earned the loudest cheers, together with M-V-P chants, as he trotted out from the dugout throughout staff introductions.

Miller, hitting leadoff for Texas, instantly quieted the Rogers Centre crowd when he bounced a 1-2 pitch from Berrios off the stadium’s second deck.

Berrios’s struggles did not finish there, with a wild pitch to Mitch Garver scoring Semien. Nathaniel Lowe singled within the subsequent at-bat to push Corey Seager throughout dwelling for a 3-0 Rangers lead.

Berrios managed his first out of the sport six batters deep, getting Garcia to hit right into a fielder’s alternative. He then hit Kole Calhoun with a pitch to load the bases.

With Berrios struggling to get out of the inning, Blue Jays supervisor Charlie Montoyo pulled him in favour of Saucedo.

The Toronto reliever obtained Andy Ibanez to floor right into a power out at second base however Garver scored on the play earlier than Willie Calhoun popped out to finish the inning.

Saucedo obtained two fast outs to start out the second inning however Seager doubled off the outfield wall after which Garver sailed a pitch into the second deck to present Texas a 6-0 lead.

The Rangers added to their lead within the fourth inning when Lowe’s single to deep left scored Seager from second.

Guerrero answered again for the Blue Jays within the fourth. His single introduced dwelling George Springer and superior Bichette to second. Hernandez then walked to load the bases and introduced Lourdes Gurriel Jr., as much as the plate.

Gurriel hit right into a fielder’s alternative scoring Bichette and Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly introduced in Guerrero to chop Texas’s result in 7-3.

The highest of Toronto’s batting order saved chipping away within the fifth.

Springer drew a two-out stroll earlier than Bichette and Guerrero had back-to-back singles to attain one other run. Hernandez then smashed a pitch simply over the right-field fence to tie the sport 7-7.

Santiago Espinal, pinch hitting for Biggio, gave Toronto its first lead of the sport with a two-out double within the sixth, cashing in Jansen.

That Blue Jays lead did not final lengthy although as Garcia tied it again up for Texas within the seventh inning with a house run to proper discipline.

A controversial play within the backside of that inning put Toronto again forward.

Hernandez was known as out by dwelling plate umpire Invoice Welke when Gurriel doubled to deep left and superior to 3rd on Miller’s throw. Followers chanted “Secure!” because the umpiring crew reviewed the play and erupted with cheers when it was the decision was reversed, with Gurriel sliding his foot below Garver’s tag.

Jansen gave the Blue Jays extra of a cushion with a one-out dwelling run to deep left discipline making it 10-8.

Romano took the mound within the ninth, hanging out Seager, inducing a Garver pop fly, and fanning Lowe.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 8, 2022.

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