SEATTLE (AP) — Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter hit his third career home run in his second career major league game Friday night.
The top prospect hit two home runs, including one in his first regular-season at-bat on Thursday in a 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners. After becoming the fifth player in Cleveland’s 126-year franchise history to hit a home run in his first career regular-season at-bat, DeLauter picked up where he left off on Friday.
In the first inning, DeLauter launched a 1-0 slider by Seattle starter George Kirby and hit it 360 feet to right field. He is the third player since at least 1900 with three home runs in his first two career regular-season games, joining Trevor Story (2016) and Joe Cunningham (1954).
DeLauter, who Cleveland selected 16th overall in the 2022 amateur draft, made Cleveland’s opening day roster after hitting .452 with three home runs and nine RBIs in spring training.
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Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley can't catch the solo home run from Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
TORONTO (AP) — Andrés Giménez drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Athletics 3-2 on Friday night.
Giménez had three RBIs, including a two-run triple in the fifth.
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers hit two home runs, including a game-tying blast off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (1-0) in the top of the ninth, but Toronto used three straight hits off Justin Sterner (0-1) to win it in the bottom half.
Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto singled, went to third on Ernie Clement’s high-bouncing double over third base, and scored when Giménez grounded a base hit up the middle.
Making his major league debut after signing with the Blue Jays in January, Okamoto finished 2 for 3. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat, walked and scored Toronto’s first run of the season in a two-run fifth, then lined his first hit in the seventh.
Hoffman blew the save in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series when he gave up a game-tying homer to Miguel Rojas.
Friday’s tying homer came one batter after Toronto successfully challenged umpire Marvin Hudson’s two-strike call on Nick Kurtz to begin the ninth, with Kurtz called out on strikes.
Before Friday’s game, Blue Jays sluggers George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stood at home plate to address fans, then counted down to the unveiling of a banner celebrating Toronto’s first American League pennant since 1993.
Kevin Gausman set a Blue Jays opening day record by striking out 11 batters in six innings. Gausman allowed one run and one hit.
Gausman didn’t walk a batter in his third career opening day start, his first with Toronto.
Langeliers had the lone hit off Gausman, a solo homer in the fourth.
The A's lost for the fifth time in their past six opening day games.
RHP Dylan Cease makes his Blue Jays debut Saturday afternoon against Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs.
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Athletics' Shea Langeliers (23) celebrates his solo home run with Tyler Soderstrom (21) as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (right) looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) holds on to the ball after forcing out Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays Andrés Giménez (0) reacts after hitting a triple against the Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto (left) and Ernie Clement (22) celebrate after they both scored during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman reacts after throwing a strikeout against the Athletics during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
