TORONTO — Angel Martínez delivered a breakout performance at the plate, launching two home runs off future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer to lead the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 24, 2026.
The 24-year-old center fielder’s first career multi-homer game came in spectacular fashion, as he worked deep counts and showed remarkable poise against one of baseball’s most formidable pitchers. Martínez opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run shot off Scherzer, then followed it up with another two-run homer in the third inning after an 11-pitch at-bat that included seven consecutive foul balls to start the sequence.
“That 11-pitch homer might have been one of the best at-bats I’ve seen,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said after the game. “Just to function the count, work the pitches, foul off, fight for the next pitch and then get one you can handle.”
Martínez’s first home run traveled an estimated 388 feet with an exit velocity of 103.0 mph, clearing the right-center field bleachers. His second came after falling behind 0-2 in the count, fouling off a curveball and a changeup before sending a four-seam fastball into the same area of the park.
“Just thinking about the next pitch,” Martínez said. “Stay simple, stay to the middle and don’t try to do too much.” He added that he fouled off Scherzer’s next five pitches, including a pair of curveballs in the dirt, before connecting on the 11th offering.
The Guardians jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first inning, with Martínez’s homer capping the rally. Daniel Schneemann also made history by hitting the first leadoff home run of his career, a solo shot to start the game.
Toronto responded with three runs in the bottom of the first, but Cleveland extended its advantage to 6-3 with a run in the second inning. The Blue Jays closed to within one run in the fifth, but the Guardians answered with two more in the sixth to make it 8-4.
Toronto made it interesting in the eighth, scoring two runs to cut the deficit to 8-6, but Cleveland’s bullpen held firm to secure the win. Emmanuel Clase recorded the save, his fifth of the season.
Max Scherzer took the loss, dropping to 2-3 on the season after allowing five runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out seven but walked two and was victimized by Martínez’s historic night.
For the Guardians, the win improved their record to 12-10 on the young season. The victory marked their second straight win and gave them momentum heading into the remainder of the series.
José Ramírez continued his strong start, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, whereas Schneemann finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
On the Blue Jays’ side, Davis Schneider had two hits and an RBI, but the loss dropped Toronto to 11-11. The team also suffered an injury scare when Nathan Lukes left the game after sliding into second base, though the severity of the injury was not disclosed in the available reports.
The series continues on Saturday, with the Guardians looking to sweep the set and the Blue Jays aiming to avoid being swept at home. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. ET.
Martínez’s performance represents a significant breakthrough for the young outfielder, who entered the game with just two home runs on the season. His ability to battle Scherzer pitch-by-pitch and come away with two home runs signals a potential turning point in his development.
As the Guardians look to build on this victory, they will rely on continued contributions from their young core, including Martínez, Schneemann, and Ramírez, while hoping to get Steven Kwan back in the lineup soon after he was given a day off for this game.
For the Blue Jays, the loss highlights the need for consistency against top-tier pitching, especially as they navigate a competitive AL East race. Scherzer, despite the loss, showed flashes of dominance but was unable to overcome the early deficit and Martínez’s late-inning heroics.
The outcome of this opening game sets the tone for what promises to be an intriguing series between two teams with aspirations of postseason play in 2026.
Stay tuned to Archysport for updates on the remainder of the series and all the latest MLB news.
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