08/18/26 08:48:00
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08/18 20:47 CDT Okamoto sets Blue Jays rookie record with 25th home run as
Toronto cruises by Rays 10-5
Okamoto sets Blue Jays rookie record with 25th home run as Toronto cruises by
Rays 10-5
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) --- Kazuma Okamoto broke Toronto's rookie home run
record with his 25th, Josh Smith and Alejandro Kirk also homered and the Blue
Jays beat the AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays 10-5 on Tuesday night in the opener of
their series.
The Blue Jays have won 13 of their last 19 games.
Okamoto gave Toronto a 7-3 lead with his homer in the fifth, breaking Eric
Hinske's team record. Brett Bateman tacked on an RBI single before Smith
launched a ball over the right-field wall, capping the scoring for the Blue
Jays.
George Springer had an RBI single in the first, and Jess Snchez added a
run-scoring double. Kirk extended the lead in the third with his homer to
left-center field. Kirk also drove in a run with a single in the fourth and
Bateman scored another on a wild pitch by Rays starter Nick Martinez (12-4).
Jos Soriano (10-6) allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings, striking
out two.
The Rays scored their first run on a wild pitch, and Taylor Walls brought Tampa
Bay within three on a two-run single. Cedric Mullins and Richie Palacios hit
sacrifice flies in the eighth.
Martinez gave up six runs on nine hits while fanning five in 3 2/3 innings.
Through four batters, the Blue Jays matched their previous season high of one
run in three games against Martinez.
Up next
Blue Jays' RHP Max Scherzer (1-5, 6.59 ERA) gets the start against Rays' RHP
Drew Rasmussen (12-5, 2.78 ERA) in game two of the series on Wednesday.
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