ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Marcus Stroman outpitched Chris Archer in his first opening day start, helping the Toronto Blue Jays begin defense of their first AL East title in 22 years with a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.Stroman allowed three runs and six hits over eight-plus innings for the Blue Jays, who won 93 games in 2015 before making a run to the AL Championship Series in their first playoff appearance since 1993.Troy Tulowitzki hit the first home run of the 2016 MLB season, a two-run shot for Toronto. 
Edwin Encarnacion had two hits and drove in two runs after not having an at-bat in a major league exhibition all spring training because of injuries.The Blue Jays, the highest-scoring team in the majors last year, struck quickly on Encarnacion's two-run single in the first.Archer struck out a Rays opening-day record 12 in five innings. But Encarnacion got him early and Kevin Pillar added an RBI single in the fourth. The right-hander limited the Blue Jays to five hits, but walked three during a 107-pitch outing.Evan Longoria had two hits and drove in Tampa Bay's first run with a third-inning single. Offseason acquisition Corey Dickerson added a solo homer off Stroman leading off the ninth and Kevin Kiermaier drove in the final run charged to the starter with a bloop single off Roberto Osuna.Osuna got the last three outs for the save.At 24 years, 338 days old, Stroman became the third-youngest pitcher to make an opening day start for the Blue Jays. He earned the assignment after making just four starts, going 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA, in 2015, when he missed most of the season after undergoing surgery on his left knee during spring training.Archer, who set a club record with 252 strikeouts last season, fanned the most batters on opening day since Seattle's Felix Hernandez struck out 12 against Oakland on April 2, 2007.
Edwin Encarnacion had two hits and drove in two runs after not having an at-bat in a major league exhibition all spring training because of injuries.The Blue Jays, the highest-scoring team in the majors last year, struck quickly on Encarnacion's two-run single in the first.Archer struck out a Rays opening-day record 12 in five innings. But Encarnacion got him early and Kevin Pillar added an RBI single in the fourth. The right-hander limited the Blue Jays to five hits, but walked three during a 107-pitch outing.Evan Longoria had two hits and drove in Tampa Bay's first run with a third-inning single. Offseason acquisition Corey Dickerson added a solo homer off Stroman leading off the ninth and Kevin Kiermaier drove in the final run charged to the starter with a bloop single off Roberto Osuna.Osuna got the last three outs for the save.At 24 years, 338 days old, Stroman became the third-youngest pitcher to make an opening day start for the Blue Jays. He earned the assignment after making just four starts, going 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA, in 2015, when he missed most of the season after undergoing surgery on his left knee during spring training.Archer, who set a club record with 252 strikeouts last season, fanned the most batters on opening day since Seattle's Felix Hernandez struck out 12 against Oakland on April 2, 2007.
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