Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer struck out nine batters on Sunday, as part of a 5-2 win over the visiting Athletics.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
John Schneider hoped his pitchers would strike out more batters this season.
This, he didn’t expect. The Blue Jays staff recorded 50 strikeouts during a sweep of the Athletics, a major league record for the most by any team in the first three games of a season.
“It’s our team’s 50-year celebration so I think 50 strikeouts sounds about right,” Schneider, the Toronto manager, joked. “This [sport] is so historical it’s kind of cool to be a part of that.”
The Blue Jays got 15 in Sunday’s 5-2 victory at Rogers Centre including nine by…