TORONTO — Toronto manager John Schneider gave Jesus Sanchez a shot at the No. 2 spot in the batting order for his first start as a Blue Jay on Sunday afternoon.
The recently acquired outfielder took advantage of the opportunity with a two-run homer to help power Toronto to a 5-2 victory over the Athletics (0-3) to complete a three-game sweep.
“I liked the matchup for him today against the starter (Luis Morales),” Schneider said. “So I wanted to have him get as many at-bats against the starter as possible. And I just love the work he’s been doing.”
Sanchez turned on a 3-0 offering and blasted it 417 feet to straightaway centre field. It had an exit velocity of 109.2 m.p.h., the fourth hardest-hit ball of the game.
“I believe in and I trust my power,” said Sanchez, who made his big-league debut in 2020 with Miami.
Sanchez also drew a walk to lift his on-base percentage to .571.
“I love where he’s gotten to at this point and there’s still a ton of room for growth I think with him,” Schneider said. “But I was really impressed with the 3-0 swing and not getting too big and understanding that Vladimir (Guerrero Jr.) is behind you.
“He (was) going to get a fastball and he didn’t miss it.”
After sitting out the season opener Friday night, Sanchez came on as a pinch-hitter Saturday and had a hit and two runs in two at-bats.
“You want everyone to feel a part of it,” Schneider said of using Sanchez in the opening series. “And I think that if he can see a starter multiple times, this dude has got some serious skills.
“When you put him in front of Vladimir and behind George, (it’s a) pretty good spot to hit.”
George Springer led off the game with a homer and Kazuma Okamoto added a solo shot for the Blue Jays (3-0), who outhit the Athletics 6-5.
Sanchez, 28, was picked up in a deal last month with Houston in exchange for outfielder Joey Loperfido. Sanchez hit .237 last season with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs in 134 games with the Astros and Marlins.
The trade to Toronto was made shortly after the Blue Jays announced that outfielder Anthony Santander would miss at least five months due to left shoulder surgery.
Springer, meanwhile, turned on the first pitch Morales (0-1) threw for his 64th career leadoff home run.
Lauer (1-0) struck out the side in the opening frame. He allowed three hits, two earned runs and a walk over 5 1/3 innings.
“He’s really good when he’s mixing his pitches and when he is executing,” Schneider said. “And I think that’s what led to the strikeouts today.”
Toronto pitchers combined for 50 strikeouts over the series. That tied a franchise record set in a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers in March 2019.
The Blue Jays were scheduled to continue their six-game homestand Monday night against the Colorado Rockies.
Toronto’s Cody Ponce was scheduled to start against fellow right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2026.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
