DUNEDIN, Fla. — It was only the second game of the spring, but the drama felt like late September. The Toronto Blue Jays stormed out of the gates, built a lead, lost it in spectacular fashion, and nearly authored a stunning comeback before ultimately falling 11-10 to the Boston Red Sox in a Grapefruit League thriller that had everything except a happy ending for Toronto.

If spring training is supposed to be measured and methodical, someone forgot to tell these two clubs.

Toronto wasted no time igniting the afternoon. In the top of the first inning, designated hitter Eloy Jiménez delivered an RBI knock to set the tone, second baseman Leo Jiménez followed with another run-scoring hit, and highly regarded shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala added to the surge as the Blue Jays plated four quick runs. It was an emphatic statement from a lineup eager to prove its depth.

The momentum lasted all of half an inning.

Boston responded with four runs of its own in the bottom frame, erasing Toronto’s early advantage in a flash and foreshadowing the back-and-forth chaos that would define the afternoon. The Red Sox lineup, relentless and balanced, attacked early and often, turning what looked like a comfortable Jays cushion into a deadlock before many fans had even settled into their seats.

Still, Toronto refused to fold.

By the sixth inning, the Blue Jays had clawed their way to a 7-4 lead, thanks largely to the bat of Eloy Jiménez. The veteran slugger launched a solo home run that left the bat with authority, a reminder of the offensive upside that made him such a compelling addition. Moments later, shortstop Josh Kasevich crushed a two-run shot, stretching the margin and reigniting belief in the dugout.

Then came the collapse.

In the bottom of the sixth, Boston erupted for six runs in a devastating offensive avalanche that flipped the game on its head. Toronto’s pitching faltered at the worst possible moment. Starter Fernando Perez, the 22-year-old hopeful looking to make an impression, struggled mightily, surrendering four runs while recording just two outs. Later, Yariel Rodríguez was tagged for six runs in just two-thirds of an inning, unable to stem the tide as Boston’s bats overwhelmed the Jays’ staff.

The Red Sox would extend their advantage to 11-7, capitalizing on a 15-hit barrage that featured contributions from 11 different players. Braiden Ward, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Nate Eaton each drove in two runs, underscoring the depth and opportunism that defined Boston’s performance.

At that point, the game felt decided.

But spring games have a way of producing one last twist.

Trailing by four entering the ninth, Toronto mounted a furious rally that transformed a routine February loss into a heart-pounding near-miracle. Tucker Toman ripped an RBI double. Yohendrick Pinango followed with another run-scoring two-bagger. Robert Brooks lined an RBI single. Suddenly, it was 11-10, and the dugout that had been deflated just innings earlier was alive with energy.

One swing could have rewritten the script.

Instead, Red Sox reliever Jay Allmer delivered the final blow, striking out Sean Keys to end the rally and seal the victory for Boston. The Blue Jays were left staring at the scoreboard, one run short, their late-game heroics reduced to a footnote in a loss.

For manager and staff, the takeaways are layered. The offense showed explosiveness, plating 10 runs on the afternoon and demonstrating the kind of depth that can carry a club through the grind of a long season. Eloy Jiménez’s bat looked lively. Young prospects flashed promise. The resilience in the ninth inning spoke to a clubhouse unwilling to concede.

Yet the pitching inconsistencies cannot be ignored. Early spring or not, surrendering 11 runs — including a six-run inning — highlights areas that demand immediate attention. Development is part of February baseball, but so is accountability.

The Blue Jays, now 1-1 in Grapefruit League play, will look to recalibrate quickly when they host the New York Mets in Dunedin on Monday. With the regular season opener looming March 27 at Rogers Centre against the Oakland Athletics, every inning carries weight, every performance a data point.

Sunday’s game may not count in the standings, but its lessons resonate. The Blue Jays proved they can punch. They proved they can rally. What remains to be seen is whether they can close.

In February, the margin between optimism and concern is razor thin. And in Dunedin, it was exactly one run.