Okamoto sets Blue Jays rookie record with 25th homer as Toronto whips Rays 10-5

By: The Associated Press Posted: 8:49 PM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026 Last Modified: 8:52 PM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026

Advertise with us

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 three-game series.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

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 three-game series.

The surging 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.

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto, of Japan, watches his home run off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Steven Matz during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

George Springer had an RBI single in the first, and Jesús Sánchez added a run-scoring double. Kirk extended the lead in the third with his homer to left-centre 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).

José 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 2 of the series on Wednesday.

___

See AP’s full MLB coverage here