Okamoto's two doubles, three RBIs lead Blue Jays past Reds 6-5

Kazuma Okamoto hit two doubles and drove in three runs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Friday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. apologized to fans before the game for controversial podcast comments and delivered a key RBI single in the seventh.

TORONTO - Kazuma Okamoto hit two doubles and drove in three runs to power the Toronto Blue Jays past the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Friday.

Alejandro Kirk and Okamoto each had an RBI double in the first inning for an early 2-0 Toronto lead. The Blue Jays improved to 78-82 with the win, snapping a three-game skid. Cincinnati fell to 74-86. Starting pitcher Jose Soriano struggled for Toronto, allowing five runs on eight hits over three innings.

Blue Jays Bullpen Stops Reds

Brendan Cellucci, Chad Dallas, Mason Fluharty, Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland came out of the bullpen to shut down the Reds the rest of the way. Cincinnati came flying out of the gate in the first three innings, taking full advantage of Soriano's poor showing. Eugenio Suarez had a solo home run in the second.

Elly De La Cruz added a two-run double in the third before Sal Stewart singled home another run and Hector Rodriguez's fielder's choice drove in a run. Nick Lodolo started for the Reds and gave up seven hits and two walks over five innings, limiting the damage to just two runs. Relievers Luis Mey (0-2), Pierce Johnson and Graham Ashcraft followed him to the mound. Toronto loaded the bases twice in the second and third innings but failed to score.

The Blue Jays had runners on all three bases again in the third when Okamoto banged his double off the wall in left-centre field to cash in two and tie the game 5-5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. apologized to fans before the game for controversial comments he made in a Spanish-language podcast on Wednesday. He drew a mixed response when he first came to bat and loud boos when he struck out twice.

Guerrero Leads Seventh-Inning Rally

He turned the Blue Jays faithful around in the seventh when the sold-out Rogers Centre crowd chanted his name before his RBI single. Guerrero, Okamoto and Nathan Lukes drove in runs with base hits in a four-run seventh to re-take the lead. Okamoto now has 92 runs batted in during his rookie MLB season. The next most on the Blue Jays is light-hitting shortstop Andres Gimenez with 58.

Trey Yesavage (5-5) will start for the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon in the second-last game of the season. Rhett Lowder (6-12) will go for Cincinnati. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2026. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press

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TSN_Sports CTVToronto:Kazuma Okamoto powers Blue Jays past Reds 6-5 as Toronto snaps three-game skid

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