Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman powers opening day win

Marcus Stroman pitched eight strong innings and Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays opened their season with a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night at Tropicana Field.

Stroman took the mound in the ninth inning searching for the complete game, but a leadoff home run by Corey Dickerson followed by a single back up the middle brought Roberto Osuna in for his first save of the season. Stroman struck out five and walked just one batter while allowing six hits.

Rays starter Chris Archer pitched just five innings but made the most of his time on the mound by recording 12 strikeouts, a Tampa Bay club record for an opening day starter.

Edwin Encarnacion broke the Blue Jays (1-0) through in the first inning with a two-run single to score Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, proving yet again that he doesn’t need much time to find his groove. On the 2-2 count, Encarnacion’s approach was excellent as he patiently covered the lower-outside half and poked a line-drive over into right-centre field.

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Tampa Bay (0-1) broke through in the bottom of the third on an Evan Longoria RBI single. Longoria also doubled earlier in the game.

Logan Morrison and Stroman exchanged words after a Morrison fly-out early in the game. Morrison struck out in three pitches his next at-bat, and it wasn’t close.

Sunday won’t go down as Toronto’s finest moment in terms of fielding, though. Both Ryan Goins and Jose Bautista made errors on relatively routine balls hit within their immediate area. Russell Martin quickly erased Bautista’s error, gunning down Kiermaier as he attempted to steal third.

Manager John Gibbons nailed his first replay review of the season in the second inning when Kevin Kiermaier and Chris Colabello had a bang-bang play at first base. After being dodged by Kiermaier on the baseline tag attempt, Colabello slapped the with his glove base an instant before Kiermaier’s foot landed.

Tomorrow night the Blue Jays send R.A. Dickey to the mound to face Drew Smyly at 7:10 p.m. Eastern Time.