Okamoto and Smith hit homers to help Blue Jays down Athletics 4-2

West Sacramento, Calif. — Kazuma Okamoto and Josh Smith each homered as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Oakland Athletics 4‑2 on Tuesday night, September 8, 2026, at 9:35 p.m. Toronto (72‑73) sits a fractional game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final AL wild‑card spot. Smith, acquired from the Texas Rangers on Aug. 3, opened the scoring in the second inning with a 360‑foot home run to give Toronto a 1‑0 lead. In his 20 games with the Blue Jays he has five home runs. Okamoto followed in the next at‑bat with his 30th home run of the rookie season. He becomes the only other Japanese‑born player, alongside Chicago White Sox rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami, to reach 30 homers in a rookie campaign. The milestone also marks the first time in major‑league history that three rookies have hit 30 or more home runs in the same season; Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart is the third rookie to achieve the feat. Alejandro Kirk added an RBI single, and Smith later ended the scoring by grounding into a one‑run triple play. José Soriano (12‑7), also obtained from the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 3, worked seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. Spencer Miles tossed two hitless innings for his second save of the season. For Oakland, Carlos Cortes and Donovan Walton each homered. Athletics starter Jack Perkins (3‑11) gave up four runs on seven hits and fanned three. Looking ahead, Athletics left‑hander Brady Basso (1‑2, 4.32 ERA) is slated to start Wednesday’s finale, while the Blue Jays have not yet announced a starter.