Blue Jays rally late to edge Reds 6-5 in season's final series opener

Late rally salvages frustrating offensive night

For six innings, the Toronto Blue Jays appeared headed toward another textbook example of their 2026 offensive struggles. Despite loading the bases twice and putting multiple runners in scoring position early, they managed just two runs before breaking through with a four-run seventh inning to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 6-5. The comeback victory masked what had been another night of missed opportunities, as Toronto left nine men on base through the first six frames. The win exemplified both the promise and problems of this Blue Jays squad - capable of explosive innings but prone to prolonged offensive droughts. The victory came in the opener of a three-game series that concludes both teams' seasons, with Toronto improving their record in what has been a disappointing campaign.

Wasted chances nearly cost Jays

Toronto's offense showed immediate life with three first-inning doubles from Charles McAdoo, Alejandro Kirk and Kazuma Okamoto that staked them to a 2-0 lead. McAdoo's leadoff double to right field set the tone, followed by Kirk's RBI double and Okamoto's run-scoring two-bagger later in the frame. However, the early success proved deceptive as the Jays repeatedly failed to capitalize on scoring chances. In the first inning alone, Kirk grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. The pattern continued in the second when McAdoo's line single loaded the bases with one out, only for Kirk to hit into another double play. The third inning saw Nathan Lukes double with two outs to load the bases again, but Toronto came up empty once more. These failures nearly proved costly as Cincinnati built their lead while the Jays offense went dormant from the fourth through sixth innings.

De La Cruz sparks Reds' rally

The Reds capitalized on Toronto's offensive struggles by erasing the early deficit against starter Jose Soriano. The turning point came in the third inning when Elly De La Cruz lined a two-run double down the left field line, part of a three-run rally that gave Cincinnati a 5-2 advantage. De La Cruz's hit scored two runs after an opposite-field single and bunt set the table, and the dynamic shortstop later stole third base to complete a 30-30 season, becoming just the seventh player in Reds history to achieve the milestone. The Reds added two more runs in the frame when Soriano's decision to go for a double play rather than holding runner Sal Stewart at third backfired. Stewart scored on the play when the relay throw to first was late, extending Cincinnati's lead to three runs. Eugenio Suarez contributed to the rally with a long second-deck home run in the second inning that started Cincinnati's scoring.

Bullpen provides critical stability

After Soriano's early exit following just 2.1 innings of work, Toronto's relief corps delivered 3.2 scoreless innings to keep the game within reach. Brendan Cellucci set the tone with two strong frames, including a perfect fifth inning with two strikeouts. Chad Dallas worked around a pair of soft singles in the sixth before handing off to Mason Fluharty, who retired both batters he faced in the seventh. The bullpen's collective effort - allowing just three hits while striking out three - provided the necessary bridge to the late-inning rally. Tyler Rogers and Luis Varland then slammed the door with perfect eighth and ninth innings respectively, preserving the comeback victory. Rogers and Varland have been Toronto's most reliable relievers all season, and this performance lowered their combined ERA to under 2.50 in late-inning situations.

Seventh-inning explosion changes game

The game's pivotal sequence came in the bottom of the seventh when Toronto finally broke through against Cincinnati's bullpen. The rally began with Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s bizarre broken-bat single that caromed off shattered barrel fragments into right field, plating pinch-runner Andres Gimenez. George Springer reached on an error by shortstop Oswaldo Cabrera to load the bases, forcing Reds reliever Luis Mey from the game. Against new pitcher Pierce Johnson, Kazuma Okamoto lined his second double of the night off the left-center wall to clear the bases and tie the game. Nathan Lukes followed with the go-ahead RBI single to left, his second hit of the night. The four-run outburst marked a rare instance of the Jays delivering with runners in scoring position, overcoming their earlier frustrations that saw them go 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position before the seventh inning.

Historic pitching matchup looms

With two games remaining in the season, attention turns to a potential historic moment between future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Verlander will make the final start of his illustrious career on Saturday, currently holding an eight-strikeout lead (3,554 to 3,546) over Scherzer on the all-time list. Scherzer appears likely to start Sunday's season finale, setting up a potential last-day chase for seventh place on the career strikeouts list. The rare convergence of two legendary careers ending simultaneously adds significance to an otherwise meaningless late-September series between non-contenders. Verlander hasn't pitched in a minor league game since early June, making his final appearance duration uncertain, while Scherzer would be working on short rest if he starts Sunday's finale.

Season finale storylines emerge

Beyond the Verlander-Scherzer narrative, Toronto's final games offer several subplots. Trey Yesavage continues his comeback from a torn meniscus in Saturday's start against Cincinnati's Rhett Lowder. The Jays will also evaluate young players like McAdoo and Lukes who contributed to Friday's win. For Cincinnati, De La Cruz's 30-30 campaign provides a bright spot in a disappointing season. Lowder brings a 6.01 ERA into his final start, while Yesavage looks to build on his 3.67 mark in what could be an audition for next season's rotation. While both teams long ago fell from playoff contention, the series finale could provide a memorable moment as two of baseball's most accomplished pitchers potentially duel for position in the record books during their final appearances.

Looking ahead

Saturday's matchup features Yesavage (5-5, 3.67) against Lowder (6-12, 6.01), with Verlander's final career start providing the emotional highlight. The Blue Jays will look to build on Friday's comeback victory while continuing to assess young talent. The Reds hope to rebound from the late collapse while celebrating De La Cruz's historic season. With both teams playing out the string, all eyes will be on the potential Scherzer-Verlander strikeout race that could conclude with Sunday's season finale, offering one final memorable moment in the careers of two pitching legends.