Blue Jays win opener as R.A. Dickey buckles down

The Toronto Blue Jays got exactly what they needed from R.A. Dickey on Tuesday night along with some timely offence, taking the opening game against the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim 7-2.

Los Angeles opened the scoring against Dickey in a familiar way: the home run ball. With Andrelton Simmons on base, Nick Buss hit a two-run shot to right field. It was the 27th home run allowed by Dickey this season. From that point on, though, Dickey was excellent.

The veteran finished his night with six and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing just those two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two. His ERA moved to 4.43 with the outing.

The Blue Jays broke through in the bottom of the third after leadoff walks to Darwin Barney and Josh Donaldson followed by an Edwin Encarnacion single loaded the bases with none out. Russell Martin, starting as the designated hitter with Dickey on the mound, worked a walk on a full count to tie the game at 2-2. Troy Tulowitzki then grounded into a double play, but it was enough to bring Donaldson across.

Following a Kevin Pillar double in the fourth, Josh Thole extended Toronto’s lead to 4-2 with a deep sacrifice fly to left-centre field. A troy Tulowitzki double in the fifth brought home another run before a Melvin Upton Jr. sac fly extended the league to four with Martin hustling home.

Michael Saunders briefly broke out of his slump in the ninth inning, hitting a solo home run down the right field line for his 21st of the season.

Joe Biagini entered in relief with one on and two out in the top of the seventh and escaped that inning. In the eighth, Biagini picked off Mike Trout at second base to highlight another scoreless frame. Scott Feldman pitched a scoreless ninth.

Devon Travis had the day off as he deals with a minor knuckle injury on his right hand.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:07 p.m. ET. Marco Estrada (7-5, 3.20 ERA) will take on Matt Shoemaker (7-13, 4.14 ERA).