Cleveland, OH – J.P. Arencibia crushed the go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the 16th inning, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the opening game of the 2012 season for both teams on Thursday at Progressive Field.
Brett Lawrie started the rally by coaxing a leadoff walk from Jairo Asencio (0-1). Omar Vizquel then tapped one back to the mound and Asencio went for the force out at second base but threw it wide, putting two runners on and Arencibia followed with a monster blast into the left field seats on a hanging slider.
Luis Perez (1-0) worked four scoreless innings to earn the victory in the longest Opening Day game in Major League history, eclipsing a 15-inning affair between the Indians and the Detroit Tigers on April 19, 1960.
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