Toronto, Ontario — The 2022 Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) are going to be a ton of fun. On Friday, the Blue Jays opened their season against a new-look Texas Rangers (0-1) squad. The new-look Rangers feature former Blue Jay Marcus Sieman and former Dodger Corey Seager, both signed with the club during the offseason. The new signings would not be enough to secure a win in game one of the season as the Rangers fell to the Blue Jays 10-8.
It was a great offensive showcase for both teams and an absolute treat for the Toronto crowd as the teams combined for 18 runs and 17 hits. Neither team’s pitchers will want to talk about this one down the road, but that’s okay.
Teoscar Hernandez was huge for the Blue Jays as he went 1-2 with a 3-run home run and drew two walks. Hernandez’s homer would tie the game at 7-7 in the fifth inning.
Jays Rally
The Blue Jays got out to a rocky start in this one as the Rangers jumped all over them. The Rangers’ lead-off man, Brad Miller, would start the season by hitting a 400-foot homer to deep center. That would set up a four-run first inning for the Rangers.
Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios would last just ⅓ of an inning as he allowed three hits, four runs, and walked four batters. It was not the ideal start to the season for Berrios.
Then after the Blue Jays got sat down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first, the Rangers stayed aggressive in the second. Mitch Garver would crush a two-run homer to deep left-center to grow the Rangers’ advantage to 6-0.
After a few quiet stanzas, the Rangers would add another run in the top of the fourth after a Nate Lowe single drove in Corey Seager. With the score sitting at 7-0, this game seemed to be getting out of hand and quickly.
The Blue Jays’ offense finally came to life in the bottom of the fourth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Bo Bichette with a single for the Blue Jays’ first run of the year. That would be the first of three runs that the Blue Jays scored in the fifth.
Rangers starter Jon Gray would be pulled after the fourth.
Gray allowed three hits, three runs, walked two batters, and struck out four. It wasn’t Gray’s best performance, but it could have been worse against such a potent Blue Jays lineup.
Then in the fifth, Guerrero would drive in another run to bring the deficit to 7-4. Hernandez’s three-run homer would tie things at 7-7 and the Blue Jays had new life.
From the fifth inning, it was basically all Blue Jays. Santiago Espinal would give the Jays an 8-7 lead after driving in Danny Jansen with a double.
To the Rangers’ credit, Adolis Garcia would tie things at 8-all with a solo homer in the seventh. It was the Blue Jays’ night, though. They would add runs in the seventh and eighth innings to secure this one. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove in Hernandez with a double to left in the seventh to take the lead.
It was a bang-bang play in which Hernandez was originally called out at the plate but after a review was called safe and gave the Blue Jays the lead.
Jansen would add insurance by hitting a homer in the eighth. Jordan Romero would come in to close the door on this one as he sat the Rangers down 1-2-3 to earn his first save of the season.
Box Score Standouts
Adam Cimber earned the win in this one out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen. Cimber pitched one inning and allowed one hit and one run. Dennis Santana earned the loss for the Rangers. Santana pitched 1 ⅓ inning, allowed one hit, one run, walked one, and struck out one batter.
Despite the loss, Corey Seager looked solid in his Ranger debut. Seager went 2-4 with a double and scored three times.
As expected, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. played a huge factor in this game. The young star went 2-4 with two RBIs and he also scored two runs. Guerrero was a huge catalyst for the Toronto offense on Friday.
What’s Next?
After an incredible season opener, these teams will meet again on Saturday.
 are going to be a ton of fun. On Friday, the Blue Jays opened their season against a new-look Texas Rangers (0-1) squad. The new-look Rangers feature former Blue Jay Marcus Sieman and former Dodger Corey Seager, both signed with the club during the offseason.){kind=link}