Longest, Most Exciting Season Opener Ever: Blue Jays Beat Indians 7-4 in 16 Innings

Thursday provided some much-need action for baseball fans everywhere. Even in Canada.

The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians kicked off their 2012 seasons at Progressive Field in exciting fashion when the Jays rallied to force extras with a three-run ninth to tie it up at four runs a piece. The game then lasted another seven innings, a record of 16 total. Too bad they stop selling beer after the seventh inning.

Our favorite Blue Jay, J.P. Arencibia, was on an unfortunate 0-for-6, three strikeout roll before connecting off Indians reliever Jairo Asencio in the 16th, resulting in the game-winning three-run shot. He caught all 16 innings, so his quads must be pretty sore. He probably needs a rub down.

Of course, it just wouldn't feel right unless Jose Bautista went yard, too. There goes no. 1 of at least 50 this season.

[ESPN]

Ladies And Gentlemen, J.P. Arencibia

Holy crap. Babes Love Baseball may have just found themselves a new boyfriend. The Blue Jays pounded the Rays on Saturday night in a 17 - 11 homerun derby, and Tampa's right handed knuckleballer James Shields gave up 6 of the 8 Toronto homeruns before being pulled from the game.

More astounding than Joe Maddon leaving his starter in long enough to give up that many runs was the amazing performance by a fresh off the farm 24-year-old rookie catcher named J.P. Arencibia.

Arencibia swung at his very first major league pitch and drilled it over the left field wall for a two run shot. As if that wasn't impressive enough, he decided to follow up with a double, a single, and ANOTHER homerun. All on the first four pitches of his major league career. Show off.