A late swing separated the Toronto Blue Jays from the Kansas City Royals, as Kazuma Okamoto’s seventh-inning single put Toronto ahead and the bullpen protected the lead.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| KC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Okamoto carried Toronto’s offense throughout the game, contributing hits in key moments and providing the go-ahead run-producing hit after the teams had traded early advantages.
Toronto opened the scoring when Alejandro Kirk’s single brought Vladimir Guerrero home, followed by Nathan Lukes’ single scoring Kirk. Kansas City answered in the opening inning, with Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez each bringing a runner home. Okamoto then doubled to score Lukes and put Toronto back in front, before John Rave’s homer tied the game. In the seventh, Okamoto’s single scored George Springer and gave Toronto the lead.
Max Scherzer and Seth Lugo both worked into the middle innings while allowing the early scoring. Toronto’s relief corps then kept Kansas City off the board, with Mason Fluharty earning the win and Louie Varland closing the ninth.
The victory extended Toronto’s winning streak, while Kansas City’s losing streak continued. The game’s late swing belonged to Okamoto, whose final scoring contribution gave the Blue Jays the margin they needed.
Toronto Blue Jays defeated Kansas City Royals, 4-3.
- Kazuma Okamoto went 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs (batting .233 on the season).
- John Rave went 1-for-3 with 1 home run, 1 RBI and 1 run scored (batting .225 on the season).
- Nathan Lukes went 3-for-5 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored (batting .270 on the season).
- Louie Varland allowed 0 runs on 0 hits over 1.0 inning, striking out 1, and closed it out for the save (33) (1.15 ERA).
- Craig Kimbrel allowed 1 run (0 earned) on 1 hit over 1.0 inning, striking out 1, and took the loss (0-2) (3.80 ERA).
- Mason Fluharty allowed 0 runs on 0 hits over 1.0 inning, striking out 2, to earn the win (6-1) (3.32 ERA).
Kansas City Royals fell to 63-80 (2 straight losses); Toronto Blue Jays improved to 72-71 (4 straight wins).