Stroman pitched eight strong innings, allowing three runs, earning the victory and getting his team off to a strong start. The 24-year-old allowed just six hits in his first start of the year, striking out five and allowing just one walk.
Closer Roberto Osuna came in the ninth inning to save the victory with two strikeouts and cementing himself with his new club.
Toronto opened the scoring in the first inning when Edwin Encarnacion singled to right field, driving in Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, helping the Jays take a quick 2-0 lead.
The Rays closed the gap in the fourth when Evan Longoria knocked in Logan Forsythe with a single to right field, but that one run deficit lasted just one inning as Toronto moved ahead 3-1 in the fifth with a run scoring single from Kevin Pillar.
Troy Tulowitzki extended the lead to 5-1 with his first home run of the season in the top of the eighth. Toronto led all of baseball in runs scored last season and showed they have the lineup to face any of the MLB’s great pitchers and feel they have a shot at winning.
The Rays sent ace Chris Archer to the mound for the opening game and the youngster pitched well, allowing three runs and striking out 12 batters in just five innings Sunday afternoon, but a lack of production early in the contest led to the loss at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay made it 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth with a homer from Corey Dickerson and made it interesting in the ninth after Kevin Kiermaier singled to center, driving in Desmond Jennings, but Osuna did his job, keeping the Rays from getting any closer as Toronto starts the year 1-0.
