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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays late comeback thwarted in walk-off loss to Athletics
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Photo credit: © Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Sep 8, 2026, 09:45 EDTUpdated: Sep 8, 2026, 09:42 EDT
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That was one of the tougher losses of the season so far.
On Monday evening, the Toronto Blue Jays kicked off a three-game series against the Athletics, coming back from a 5-1 deficit before eventually being walked off for their second consecutive loss. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
This game didn’t start well for the Blue Jays. Dylan Cease walked Henry Bolte to lead off the bottom of the first, and he stole second base for his 17 stolen base of the season. Bolte, living up to his name, moved to third base on a fly out and was cashed in by a ground rule double to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead.
Cease got the next batter swinging, but Carlos Cortes hit a single to put runners on the corner. The Athletics attempted a double steal, but the Blue Jays got Zack Gelof caught in a run down. Instead of tagging him, Alejandro Kirk threw the ball to Kazuma Okamoto, who dropped it. They still had a chance to throw out Gelof at home, but Okamoto’s throw bounced off him to plate the Athletics’ second run.
Kirk made up for it almost immediately, hitting his ninth home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the second. The Jays got the next two base runners on, but went 0-3 with the runners in scoring position in the top of the second.
In the bottom of the third, the Athletics scored twice as Bolte manufactured another run with his speed, stealing two bases before coming home on a fielder’s choice. Gelof, who drove in Bolte, stole second and third like Bolte did, and was cashed in thanks to a single. The Athletics scored a fifth run, as Bolte hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the fifth to put the Athletics up 5-1.
Finally, the Blue Jay remembered how to play baseball in the top of the seventh. Okamoto led off the seventh with a solo blast, his team-leading 29th home run of the season. They kept the pressure up, as both Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement hit singles, bringing up Andrés Giménez. A double cashed in a runner, then a sacrifice fly drove in another run to make it a 5-4 game.
Giménez was thrown out attempting to steal third, and Brett Bateman struck out to end the inning. Like both Kirk and Okamoto, Giménez made up for his mistake by hitting a game-tying solo home run in the top of the ninth.
Unfortunately, Louis Varland struggled in a non-save situation, giving up a lead-off single, then a walk. His first out came on a forceout that moved both runners up 90 feet, then he forced a lineout for the second out of the inning. Earning a 0-2 count on Bolte, the A’s outfielder drew an eight pitch walk to bring up Jeff McNeil. The former New York Met ended the game with an infield single.

Takeaways…

This was not a good game. Dylan Cease’s poor start significantly hampered his American League Cy Young dreams, as he gave up five runs (four earned) over five innings of work, with two walks and six strikeouts. His fastball velocity was also down big time, averaging 94.9 mph, the lowest it has been in a game all season.
He only allowed four hits and two walks, but any time a batter reached first, it was essentially a double. Bolte stole three bases and Gelof stole two, with another attempt by two forcing a Blue Jays’ error and a run. They have to control the run game better, as it was the catalyst for Cease’s poor start.
Alejandro Kirk, Kazuma Okamoto, and Andrés Giménez each made a mistake in this game, the first two in the run down and Giménez by being thrown out trying to get to third. All three players also hit a home run in this game, making up for their mistake.
Aside from the three home runs, the Blue Jays’ bats weren’t great. Giménez also hit a double, the other team’s extra-base hit. Nathan Lukes and Kirk also had two-hit games, while Okamoto drew two walks. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Ernie Clement each had a single as well.
In terms of the wild card standings, the Blue Jays failed to capitalize on the Cleveland Guardians’ loss, meaning they are still a game behind the final wild card spot with 17 games remaining. With Cease on the mound, this was one that the Blue Jays needed to win, especially with two spots in the rotation that have some uncertainty.
They’ll have another crack at defeating the Athletics, as José Soriano starts in the middle game on Wednesday. Jack Perkins goes for the Athletics, and the game has a 9:40 PM ET start time.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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