TORONTO (Interstat) — In a tense, season-opening pitchers’ duel that defied pregame projections, the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Athletics 3-2 on a walk-off single by Andrés Giménez in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night at Rogers Centre.

A crowd of 42,728 watched as the game, which featured a combined 10 hits and lasted just 2 hours, 26 minutes, was decided in the final frame. The Athletics, held to three hits all night, took a late lead in the top of the ninth only for the Blue Jays to mount an immediate and decisive response against reliever Justin Sterner.

The contest was dominated early by starting pitchers Kevin Gausman of Toronto and Luis Severino of Oakland. Gausman, the top star for Toronto, was brilliant, striking out 11 over six innings while allowing just one hit and one earned run. That lone blemish was a solo home run by Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers in the fourth inning, a line drive to left field that broke a scoreless tie.

Severino matched Gausman for much of his outing, holding the Blue Jays to three hits over five innings. He carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth before Toronto’s offense finally broke through. After a walk to Kazuma Okamoto, Ernie Clement doubled to put runners at second and third. Giménez then delivered a two-run triple to left field, scoring both runners and giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead.

The one-run margin held into the ninth, as the Athletics’ bullpen duo of Scott Barlow and Hogan Harris kept Toronto off the board in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Toronto relievers Tyler Rogers and Louie Varland did the same in the seventh and eighth.

In the top of the ninth, facing Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman, Langeliers struck again. He launched his second solo homer of the game, a fly ball to center field, to tie the game at 2. Hoffman recovered to strike out the side around a wild pitch, stranding the potential go-ahead run.

The bottom of the ninth began quietly against Sterner, who recorded two quick groundouts. But Okamoto kept the inning alive with a single to right. Clement followed with his second double of the game, a ground ball down the left-field line, moving Okamoto to third. Giménez then stepped in and lined a 1-2 pitch into right field, scoring Okamoto easily and triggering a celebration as the Blue Jays poured onto the field.

The most important part of the game was the bottom of the ninth inning sequence. After Langeliers’ dramatic, two-out homer in the top half had stolen the lead and momentum, the Blue Jays faced immediate pressure to respond in their final at-bat. Sterner quickly got two outs, bringing Toronto to its final strike. The consecutive, two-out hits from Okamoto, Clement, and finally Giménez—who delivered the game-winner after falling behind in the count—showcased a resilient offense that refused to let the game extend beyond regulation.

Giménez finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, accounting for all of Toronto’s runs. Clement also had two hits and scored twice. For Oakland, Langeliers was the entire offense, going 3-for-4 with both runs batted in. The rest of the Athletics’ lineup went 0-for-28 with 16 strikeouts.

Hoffman earned the win despite blowing the save, while Sterner took the loss. The victory improved Toronto’s record to 1-0, while fell to 0-1.

The game’s final score of 5 total runs went well under the pregame over/under line of 8.5, a testament to the starting pitching. It also contradicted the Interstat game simulator, which had projected a 1-0 Athletics victory, though Toronto was a pregame favorite with a 59.2% win probability according to ELO ratings.

The two teams continue their series Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre.