Kirk Drives In Three, Jays Beat Rays

Aug 18, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Blue Jays 10 Rays 5

A win at Tropicana. I always think I’m more likely to find a $20 bill on the ground than to see the Jays win at that House of Horrors.

The Jays, very democratically, scored two runs in each of five innings:

• In the first: With two out, Alejandro Kirk doubled. A ‘hustle double’, just safe at second on ball hit into the right field corner. George Springer singled him home. A0nd Jesús Sánchez doubled him home. I wonder if we have ever scored in the first in St. Petersburg before?
• In the third: Nathan Lukes led off with a walk. And Kirk homered (two at bats and six total bases).
• In the fourth: Ernie Clements started this one with a single. An out later, Brett Bateman singled (and then stole second, his first MLB steal). After another out, Kirk singled home Clement (seven total bases). And a wild pitch scored Bateman.
• In the fifth: Kazuma Okamoto homered (#25 of the season, setting a new Jays rookie record, sorry Eric Hinske). An out late, Clement singled. Josh Smite put down a sac bunt (up 7-3 and we can’t let the guy SWING THE BAT??). Bateman singled home Clement.
• In the seventh: One out, Clement singled and Smith homered (see, let the man swing, good things happen).

We had 17 hits (let me double check, maybe that’s for the season, nope, tonight 17 hits). Kirk, Springer and Clement had three each. Bateman and Smith had two each. Every starter had at least one hit. Kirk’s average is up to .279. In a season where he broke a thumb, that’s very impressive.

On the pitching side, José Soriano looked terrific for three innings, then gave up three in the fourth (but we already had six). He ended up going 5.2, with the three runs against. Another out and it would be a Quality Start.

Mason Fluharty got the last out of the sixth.

Matt Waldron gave up two runs in his two innings.

Spencer Miles pitched a clean ninth.

Smith made a very nice play at third, I was a bit worried about his glove at third, but he looked good.

Jays of the Day: Kirk (0.16), Springer (0.11) and Soriano (0.09).

No one gets the Other Award.

Tomorrow, we have another 6:40 start. Max Scherzer (1-5, 6.59, but on a nice run of good starts) vs. Drew Rasmussen (12-5, 2.78).