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Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals

MLBSeptember 5, 2026Kauffman Stadium

Blue JaysTorontoTORWon72-71

Blue Jays 4, Royals 3

Final
RoyalsKansas CityKC63-80
Score by inning
Team123456789RHE
TOR2010001004130
KC200100000372

W Mason FluhartyL Craig KimbrelSV Louis Varland

Kazuma Okamoto leads Blue Jays past Royals 4-3 to pull into tie for last AL wild cardKazuma Okamoto had four hits and two RBI, including a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning, as the surging Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Saturday night to pull even with Cleveland for the final American League playoff spot.Recap · ESPN

Scoring

Play-by-play

In order

Top 1st

  1.  Brett Bateman singles on a line drive to center fielder John Rave.
  2.  George Springer flies out to center fielder John Rave.KC 55%
  3.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jac Caglianone.
  4.  Alejandro Kirk singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Josh Rojas. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scores. Alejandro Kirk to 2nd. Throwing error by third baseman Josh Rojas.TOR 59%
  5.  Nathan Lukes singles on a line drive to left fielder Isaac Collins. Alejandro Kirk scores.TOR 69%
  6.  Kazuma Okamoto doubles (22) on a sharp line drive to left fielder Isaac Collins. Nathan Lukes to 3rd.
  7.  Andrés Giménez grounds out, third baseman Josh Rojas to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.

Bot 1st

  1.  Carter Jensen hit by pitch.
  2.  Bobby Witt Jr. doubles (29) on a sharp line drive to left fielder Myles Straw. Carter Jensen to 3rd.TOR 50%
  3.  Jac Caglianone singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ernie Clement. Carter Jensen scores. Bobby Witt Jr. to 3rd.KC 59%
  4.  Salvador Perez singles on a line drive to right fielder Nathan Lukes. Bobby Witt Jr. scores. Jac Caglianone to 3rd.KC 69%
  5.  Vinnie Pasquantino grounds out softly, pitcher Max Scherzer to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Salvador Perez to 2nd.
  6.  Michael Massey reaches on a fielder's choice out, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. Jac Caglianone out at 3rd.KC 55%
  7.  John Rave walks.
  8.  Josh Rojas flies out to left fielder Myles Straw.KC 51%

Top 2nd

  1.  Ernie Clement singles on a ground ball to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.TOR 54%
  2.  Myles Straw flies out to right fielder Jac Caglianone.
  3.  Brett Bateman walks. Ernie Clement to 2nd.
  4.  George Springer flies out to right fielder Jac Caglianone. Ernie Clement to 3rd.KC 50%
  5.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pops out to second baseman Michael Massey.

Bot 2nd

  1.  Isaac Collins flies out to left fielder Myles Straw.
  2.  Carter Jensen grounds out, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  3.  Bobby Witt Jr. challenged (pitch result), call on the field was confirmed: Bobby Witt Jr. called out on strikes.

Top 3rd

  1.  Alejandro Kirk grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  2.  Nathan Lukes singles on a line drive to left fielder Isaac Collins.
  3.  Kazuma Okamoto doubles (23) on a ground ball to left fielder Isaac Collins. Nathan Lukes scores. Kazuma Okamoto out at 3rd on the throw, left fielder Isaac Collins to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to third baseman Josh Rojas.TOR 58%
  4.  Andrés Giménez walks.
  5.  Ernie Clement pops out to third baseman Josh Rojas in foul territory.

Bot 3rd

  1.  Nick Loftin pops out to second baseman Ernie Clement.
  2.  Salvador Perez grounds out, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  3.  Vinnie Pasquantino lines out sharply to center fielder Brett Bateman.

Top 4th

  1.  Myles Straw flies out to left fielder Isaac Collins.
  2.  Brett Bateman strikes out swinging.
  3.  George Springer grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.

Bot 4th

  1.  Michael Massey lines out to center fielder Brett Bateman.
  2.  John Rave homers (4) on a fly ball to right field.KC 54%
  3.  Josh Rojas flies out to center fielder Brett Bateman.
  4.  Isaac Collins flies out to right fielder Nathan Lukes.

Top 5th

  1.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lines out sharply to center fielder John Rave.
  2.  Alejandro Kirk grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  3.  Nathan Lukes flies out to center fielder John Rave.

Bot 5th

  1.  Carter Jensen flies out to left fielder Myles Straw.
  2.  Bobby Witt Jr. pops out to shortstop Andrés Giménez.
  3.  Nick Loftin strikes out swinging.

Top 6th

  1.  Kazuma Okamoto singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder John Rave.TOR 56%
  2.  Andrés Giménez singles on a line drive to left fielder Isaac Collins. Kazuma Okamoto to 2nd.TOR 64%
  3.  Ernie Clement strikes out swinging.TOR 56%
  4.  Myles Straw strikes out on a foul tip.KC 51%
  5.  Brett Bateman grounds out, second baseman Michael Massey to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.KC 57%

Bot 6th

  1.  Salvador Perez flies out sharply to center fielder Brett Bateman.
  2.  Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to right fielder Nathan Lukes.
  3.  Michael Massey singles on a line drive to center fielder Brett Bateman.
  4.  John Rave strikes out swinging.

Top 7th

  1.  George Springer walks.TOR 56%
  2.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. challenged (pitch result), call on the field was confirmed: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. called out on strikes. George Springer steals (12) 2nd base.
  3.  Alejandro Kirk grounds out, third baseman Josh Rojas to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.KC 54%
  4.  Nathan Lukes reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. George Springer to 3rd.
  5.  Kazuma Okamoto singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Rave. George Springer scores. Nathan Lukes to 3rd.TOR 67%
  6.  Andrés Giménez flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin.TOR 61%

Bot 7th

  1.  Tyler Tolbert strikes out on a foul tip.
  2.  Isaac Collins walks.TOR 60%
  3.  Carter Jensen flies out to center fielder Brett Bateman.TOR 66%
  4.  Bobby Witt Jr. lines out to left fielder Myles Straw.

Top 8th

  1.  Ernie Clement grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  2.  Myles Straw singles on a ground ball to third baseman Nick Loftin.
  3.  Brett Bateman lines out to left fielder Isaac Collins.
  4.  George Springer flies out to left fielder Isaac Collins.

Bot 8th

  1.  Nick Loftin singles on a line drive to right fielder Nathan Lukes.TOR 53%
  2.  Salvador Perez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Nathan Lukes. Nick Loftin to 2nd.KC 59%
  3.  Vinnie Pasquantino grounds into a double play, pitcher Tyler Rogers to shortstop Andrés Giménez to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Nick Loftin to 3rd. Matthew Lugo out at 2nd. Vinnie Pasquantino out at 1st.TOR 66%
  4.  Michael Massey grounds out to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.TOR 72%

Top 9th

  1.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounds out, third baseman Nick Loftin to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  2.  Alejandro Kirk grounds out, second baseman Michael Massey to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  3.  Nathan Lukes singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Rave.
  4.  Kazuma Okamoto grounds out, third baseman Nick Loftin to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.

Bot 9th

  1.  John Rave grounds out, shortstop Andrés Giménez to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.TOR 75%
  2.  Kyle Isbel strikes out swinging.TOR 81%
  3.  Isaac Collins grounds out, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Top 1st

  1.  TOR 1, KC 0Alejandro Kirk singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Josh Rojas. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scores. Alejandro Kirk to 2nd. Throwing error by third baseman Josh Rojas.TOR 59%
  2.  TOR 2, KC 0Nathan Lukes singles on a line drive to left fielder Isaac Collins. Alejandro Kirk scores.TOR 69%

Bot 1st

  1.  TOR 2, KC 1Jac Caglianone singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ernie Clement. Carter Jensen scores. Bobby Witt Jr. to 3rd.KC 59%
  2.  TOR 2, KC 2Salvador Perez singles on a line drive to right fielder Nathan Lukes. Bobby Witt Jr. scores. Jac Caglianone to 3rd.KC 69%

Top 3rd

  1.  TOR 3, KC 2Kazuma Okamoto doubles (23) on a ground ball to left fielder Isaac Collins. Nathan Lukes scores. Kazuma Okamoto out at 3rd on the throw, left fielder Isaac Collins to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to third baseman Josh Rojas.TOR 58%

Bot 4th

  1.  TOR 3, KC 3John Rave homers (4) on a fly ball to right field.KC 54%

Top 7th

  1.  TOR 4, KC 3Kazuma Okamoto singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Rave. George Springer scores. Nathan Lukes to 3rd.TOR 67%

Win probability

Bot 8th · Biggest swing #1 · TOR 4–3 KC

Vinnie Pasquantino grounds into a double play, pitcher Tyler Rogers to shortstop Andrés Giménez to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Nick Loftin to 3rd. Matthew Lugo out at 2nd. Vinnie Pasquantino out at 1st.

TOR 66%TOR +25 pts

Game leaders

Blue JaysToronto

RoyalsKansas City

Box score

BattingABRHRBIHRBBSOAVG
Brett Bateman CF4010011.327
George Springer DH4100010.248
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B5110001.261
Alejandro Kirk C5110000.272
Nathan Lukes RF5131000.270
Kazuma Okamoto 3B5042000.233
Andrés Giménez SS3010010.243
Ernie Clement 2B4010001.275
Myles Straw LF4010001.236
Totals394133034

2B: Okamoto 2.RBI: Lukes, Okamoto 2.SB: Springer.

PitchingIPHRERBBSOPERA
Max Scherzer5.253312766.03
Mason Fluharty W1.000012203.32
Paul Sewald0.10000075.28
Tyler Rogers1.020000121.84
Louis Varland S1.000001131.15

Video

0:10Starting lineups for Blue Jays at Royals - September 5, 20260:09Max Scherzer against the Royals0:08Bench availability for Kansas City, September 5 vs Blue Jays0:11Fielding alignment for Kansas City, September 5 vs Blue Jays
All 32 clips

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