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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays hit two home runs in Canada Day win over Mets
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jul 1, 2026, 18:30 EDTUpdated: Jul 1, 2026, 19:11 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays needed a win like this.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Blue Jays played their annual Canada Day game, defeating the New York Mets by a score of 9-3 in the rubber match. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
Nathan Lukes led off the bottom of the first with a single, which was promptly followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 13th double of the season. Up next was third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, who drove in a run with a single. Unfortunately, the Jays stranded the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the third, the Blue Jays begin a two-out rally. After Ernie Clement drove in their second run of the game, Sean Keys stepped up to the plate with two base runners. On the second pitch of the at-bat, the corner infielder hit an oppo taco for his first career home run.
Neither team scored for the next three innings, but the Blue Jays put up their second four-run inning in the bottom of the seventh. Guerrero Jr. led off the inning with a walk, then Okamoto was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double. That didn’t matter, as Daulton Varsho hit a single to make it 6-0 for the Jays.
But the biggest hit of the inning belonged to Myles Straw, who went deep for his third home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave the Blue Jays a 9-0 lead. In the following two innings, the Mets score three runs off two home runs, but the Jays ultimately won this game and the series.

Takeaways…

This was a very 2025-esque victory by the Blue Jays. In the end, they finished 5-9 with runners in scoring position, hitting two three-run home runs and scoring nine runs. It was the first time they’ve scored nine or more runs since May 9th, when they crossed the plate 14 times against the Los Angeles Angels.
The first home run of the game belonged to Sean Keys, his first of his young career. Keys profiles as a power-hitting corner infielder, exactly what this lethargic offence needs. Here’s to the first of many.
As for the other home run, Myles Straw hit his third long-ball of the season, extending the Blue Jays lead to 9-0 at the time. The fifth outfielder is now just one home run shy of matching his career-best, and this was his first career pinch hit home run.
Braydon Fisher started this game, pitching a scoreless inning before turning the ball over to Spencer Miles. The Rule 5 draftee was terrific, striking out five over three scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and a walk. His fastball also touched 99.4 mph in what was one of his best outings this season.
Patrick Corbin pitched the bulk of the game, going five innings while surrendering three earned runs on two home runs. By pitching the final five innings, the veteran left-handed pitcher was credited with the save, his first since 2016 when he was on the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Last season’s Canada Day was one of many high points, capped off by a George Springer grand slam to overtake the New York Yankees in the standings. The season turnaround came on a west coast road trip, as they managed to sweep a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.
That’s where they’ll find themselves this weekend, as they head to the Pacific Coast for a three-game weekend series. It’s the first time the two teams have played since Springer hit that three run blast in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
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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