​Blue Jays 5, Padres 3: A Three-Game Win Streak
A few days ago, this kind of victory would have felt improbable. Tonight, we rode a crucial performance from Kazuma Okamoto to win and extend our streak. Okamoto delivered a pivotal three-run homer in the fifth inning, turning the tide and providing the difference in a game that required several small plays to come together.
In the fifth, Myles Straw set the tone with a bunt single that was nicely executed. Jonatan Clase followed with a flyout, and Ernie Clement lined a single. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then delivered another productive at-bat, singling as well; the ball that sparked the rally wasn’t perfectly struck, but it rolled into the outfield grass and fetched an RBI, which counts just the same. Then Okamoto stepped up and crushed a 377-foot shot to left-center at 107.6 mph, a homer that tied Shohei Ohtani’s rookie record for home runs by a Japanese-born player with 22. Ohtani’s mark remains in reach for Okamoto, who has time left to chase it down.
The Jays also plated a run in the fourth inning. Vlad Jr. walked to lead off, and after an Okamoto strikeout, George Springer singled, followed by Alejandro Kirk doubling. With one out and runners on second and third, we hoped for more than a single run, but Daulton Varsho grounded out to first base and Luis Urias grounded out to third, ending the threat with a quiet tally on the scoreboard.
Overall, we finished with nine hits and three walks, a ratio that suggested more runs could have been scored. Clement and Straw each had two hits, while Varsho and Urias went 0-for-4 on the night.
Pitching story: Shane Bieber had a rocky start, issuing a leadoff walk and giving up a Xander Bogaerts homer in the first. Another walk and a single that inning upped the tension, hinting at a longer night than anticipated. After the opening frame, Bieber settled in somewhat, though not to peak form. He departed after a two-out single in the fourth, with Mason Fluharty recording the final out. Bieber ended with six hits, three walks, four strikeouts, and two earned runs over 4.2 innings.
The bullpen answered the bell. Chad Dallas, Jeff Hoffman, and Tyler Rogers each pitched a scoreless frame. Louis Varland faced a tense moment when he yielded three straight singles with the tying run aboard, but he ultimately induced Xander Bogaerts to ground out to third to escape damage. Varland earned the save on a 26-pitch effort, his 19th save of the season.
Individual honors: Kazuma Okamoto earned Player of the Game honors for his three-run shot and solid presence on offense and defense. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Clement also earned recognition for their contributions, with Clement posting a pair of hits. A few others snagged distinct “Jays of the Day” notes, too: Kirk added an RBI and a double, and Okamoto’s performance was a primary driver of the win. Varsho received a note for a slightly lower rating, while Urias picked up a small positive for his late-game resilience.
Looking ahead: Tomorrow brings another late start, with a 8:40 p.m. Eastern first pitch. Trey Yesavage (4-4, 3.31) will face Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.07). This matchup promises more late-night action and another chance to extend the team’s streak.
Other notes: In other news around the league, Canadian Tristan Peters tied the cycle for the White Sox, becoming just the second Canadian ever to accomplish the feat, and he did it while being mic’d up for the broadcast. It was a standout moment in a night that highlighted the international flavor of the game and the growing presence of Canadian players at high levels of play.