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Instant Reaction: Kazuma Okamoto hits home run in Blue Jays’ 4-3 loss to Braves
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Photo credit: © Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 3, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 3, 2026, 11:35 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are now three games below .500.
Beginning a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, the Blue Jays fell 4-3 to the team with the best record in Major League Baseball. Let’s take a look at what happened in this one.
The Blue Jays failed to get a base runner in the top of the first, bringing the Braves up to the plate. Lead-off hitter Ronald Acuña Jr. walked, setting up Michael Harris II to drive in the first run with a double. After a ground out that moved Harris II to third, Ozzie Albies hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Braves’ lead to two.
It didn’t take long for the Blue Jays to answer back. Daulton Varsho popped out and Ernie Clement struck out, but Yohendrick Piñango reached with a single, which was followed up by Kazuma Okamoto’s team-leading 13th home run of the season, tying the game at two.
In the bottom of the third, Kevin Gausman surrendered a two-out double to Matt Olson, who was driven in by Albies, this time with a single. The score stood that way to the top of the sixth, when Nathan Lukes led off the inning with a single, followed by a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. double. Even though they had two in scoring position, the Jays only got one run as Daulton Varsho hit a sacrifice fly. Guerrero Jr. was stranded on second base.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Olson hit his 17th home run of the season, giving the Braves a 4-3 lead that they did not relinquish. They had their chances though, getting a runner on first with either no outs or one out in the next two innings. The start of the top of the ninth was promising, as they had runners on first and second with just one out, but Andrés Giménez popped out, as did pinch hitter Jesús Sánchez to end the game. To make matters worse, Sánchez had a 2-0 count.

Takeaways…

It wasn’t Kevin Gausman’s best start, going 6+ innings with four earned runs allowed, two walks, and eight strikeouts. With this performance, his ERA sits at 3.36. The Blue Jays used three relievers, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, and Connor Seabold, with all three hurling scoreless outings. At the very least, Gausman pitching into the seventh inning gives Louis Varland and Tyler Rogers another day of rest.
The story of this game was failing to score with runners in scoring position. The Jays had their chances, especially in the ninth, but went 0-6 with six runners stranded on base. It has continued a worrisome trend dating back to the last game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
At least Kazuma Okamoto is starting to get hot again. His home run in his first plate appearance was his team-leading 13th of the season. That happens to be seven more than the second-placed Jesús Sánchez and Andrés Giménez. They have to start hitting for power soon.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is starting to hit for more power lately, at least in terms of doubles. The first baseman hit his 10th double of the season in Tuesday’s game, the only other extra-base hit. Nathan Lukes, Ernie Clement, Okamoto, and Yohendrick Piñango all had two hits in this game.
The Blue Jays will look to avoid losing their third series in their last 13, but will need to find a way to win the next two against the best team in baseball. Wednesday’s game has a 7:15 PM ET start time, with Patrick Corbin on the mound.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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