Blue Jays Set MLB Record with 50 Strikeouts in Series Sweep

Toronto Blue Jays pitchers set a major league record with 50 strikeouts over their opening three-game series, capping the weekend with a 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday to complete a sweep. George Springer led off the game with his 64th career leadoff home run, Jesús Sánchez hit a two-run shot in the third inning for his first with Toronto, and Kazuma Okamoto added a solo homer in the fourth, his first in the majors after signing as a free agent from Japan. Eric Lauer earned the win, allowing two runs and three hits with nine strikeouts in five and one-third innings. Jeff Hoffman recorded his first save of the season, working around a ninth-inning single. Max Muncy hit a two-run homer for Oakland, the visitors' only extra-base hit in one of their five total.

Across the league, several teams wrapped up their season-opening series with decisive wins. In Atlanta, Seth Lugo pitched six and one-third scoreless innings, and Carter Jensen homered and added a sacrifice fly for two RBIs as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Braves 4-1, avoiding a sweep after dropping Saturday's finale. Bobby Witt Jr. collected five hits over the series, including an RBI single, while...