Blue Jays beat Athletics 5-2, complete three-game season-opening sweep

TORONTO — George Springer hit the 64th leadoff home run of his career, Kazuma Okamoto went deep for the first time in the majors and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Athletics 5-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Jesús Sánchez added a two-run homer, his first with Toronto. The defending American League champions swept 11 series last season, one fewer than Milwaukee and Seattle, which led the majors.

The Athletics plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028, when they are scheduled to open play at a new ballpark on the Strip.

Max Muncy hit a two-run home run for the Athletics, one of five hits for the visitors.

Toronto’s Eric Lauer (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits in 5⅓ innings. He walked one and struck out nine.

Jeff Hoffman finished for his first save. Hoffman blew the save in Friday’s season opener when he allowed a game-tying home run to Shea Langeliers in the ninth inning.

Toronto pitchers combined to strike out 50 A’s batters over the weekend, a major league record for the most strikeouts in any team’s first three games of the season.

The 50 strikeouts also matches the Blue Jays record for a single series.