TORONTO (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays erased a seven-run deficit and completed the biggest opening day comeback in seven decades to beat the Texas Rangers 10-8 Friday night.
A capacity crowd of 45,022 packed in to see Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the upstart Jays for the first time since before the pandemic. They erupted when a video review ruled Teoscar Hernández beat catcher Mitch Garver's tag at the plate on Gurriel's double, putting Toronto ahead 9-8 after trailing 7-0.
The last team to win its first game after trailing by at least seven runs was the 1950 New York Yankees, who trailed 9-0 then beat Boston 15-10 at Fenway Park, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
The only other team to overcome a seven-run deficit in its season-opening game was the 1901 Detroit Tigers, who erased a 10-run gap to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 14-13.
Blue Jays right-hander Adam Cimber (1-0) pitched one inning for the win despite allowing Adolis García’s tying home run in the seventh. Yimi Garcia worked the eighth and Jordan Romano finished for his first save.
Gurriel’s winning hit came off Rangers right-hander Dennis Santana (0-1), who allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings.
Hernández hit a tying, three-run home run off right-hander Josh Sborz in the fifth and Danny Jansen gave the Blue Jays some insurance with a solo blast off righty Greg Holland in the eighth.
The Rangers chased right-hander José Berríos in the first, scoring four runs before Toronto’s No. 1 starter could record his second out, then added two more runs in the second against left-hander Tayler Saucedo on Garver’s two-run homer.
Berríos retired just one of the seven batters he faced, allowing four runs and three hits, including Brad Miller’s leadoff homer. Berríos walked two and struck out none. He threw 34 pitches, 18 strikes.
Nataniel Lowe’s RBI single off Trent Thornton in the fourth gave Texas a 7-0 lead. Toronto scored three runs off right-hander Jon Gray in the fourth and tied it on Hernandez’s two-out homer.
Santiago Espinal gave Toronto an 8-7 lead with an RBI double in the sixth.
AWARD SHOW
Before the game, former Blue Jays infielder and current Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien and Guerrero and Hernández were presented with their 2021 Silver Slugger Awards. Semien also got his Gold Glove, while Guerrero received his Hank Aaron Award from Billye Aaron, the late Hall of Fame slugger’s widow.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Garrett Richards began the season on the 10-day injured list because of a blister on his right middle finger. RHP Jonathan Hernandez (elbow surgery) and RHP José Leclerc (elbow surgery) are on the 60-day IL.
Blue Jays: Toronto has two players on the 10-day injured list to begin the season. LHP Ryan Borucki is out with a strained right hamstring, while RHP Nate Pearson is sidelined with mononucleosis.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (14-6, 2.81 with San Francisco in 2021) makes his Toronto debut Saturday against Rangers RHP Dane Dunning (5-10, 4.51 in 2021). Gausman last faced the Rangers in 2017.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
