Photo Gallery: Jays open the season with walkoff win over A’s

By Canadian Press on March 27, 2026.

Kazuma Okamoto scored the winning run in his Blue Jays debut and Kevin Gausman had 11 strikeouts as Toronto opened its 50th anniversary season with a 3-2 walkoff victory over the Athletics on Friday night.

Okamoto hit a two-out single in the ninth inning and moved to third on an Ernie Clement double. Andres Gimenez ended the game with a single up the middle off reliever Justin Sterner.

Gausman set a franchise record in the fifth inning when he fanned Max Muncy for his 10th strikeout, the most on opening day in team history.

A solo homer by Shea Langeliers was the lone blemish over his six-inning outing.

The Blue Jays took advantage of a fielding blunder to score two runs in the fifth against Athletics starter Luis Severino.

Outfielders Denzel Clarke and Tyler Soderstrom got their signals crossed on a drive by Gimenez. The ball dropped between them in left-centre field and bounced to the warning track, allowing Okamoto and Clement to score on the triple.

The start of the game was delayed about 35 minutes for player introductions and a ceremony to recognize the team’s 2025 American League title. The sellout crowd of 42,728 roared as a new banner was unveiled above the large video screen at Rogers Centre.

Here are some photos from the game.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2026.

The Canadian Press