Lukes has go-ahead hit in four-run seventh, Okamoto drives in three as Blue Jays beat Reds 6-5

TORONTO (AP) — Nathan Lukes hit a go-ahead single in a four-run seventh inning, Kazuma Okamoto had two hits and three RBIs, and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Friday night.

Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz stole third base in the third inning to become the fourth player in Reds history with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season.

De La Cruz, who started at DH on Friday, hit his 30th home run in Thursday’s 7-6 win at Atlanta.

Mason Fluharty (7-1) got two outs for the win and Louis Varland worked a 1-2-3 ninth against the top of the lineup for his 35th save in 37 chances.

Alejandro Kirk and Okamoto hit RBI doubles off Nick Lodolo in the first. Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suárez hit a home run in the second to make it 2-1.

The Reds chased José Soriano with a four-run third. De La Cruz hit a two-run double, stole third and scored on Sal Stewart’s single. Héctor Rodríguez drove in the fourth run with a fielder’s choice.

Soriano allowed five runs and eight hits.

Toronto's seventh began with back-to-back walks issued by Luis Mey (0-2).

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with an RBI single, a hit that was redirected when the bouncing ball was struck by a flying piece of Guerrero’s broken bat.

After George Springer reached on Oswaldo Cabrera’s fielding error, Pierce Johnson replaced Mey. Okamoto greeted Johnson with a tying double to center and Lukes followed with his RBI single.

Before the game, Guerrero apologized for recent comments about his 14-year, $500 million contract. He finished 1 for 5.

Blue Jays RHP Trey Yesavage (5-5, 3.67 ERA) is scheduled to start Saturday against Reds RHP Rhett Lowder (6-12, 6.01).

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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Soriano throws to a Cincinnati Reds batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (22) throws to first base to complete a double play after forcing out Cincinnati Reds' Juan Brito (46) during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cincinnati Reds designated hitter Eugenio Suarez (28) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto hits an RBI double against the Cincinnati Reds, scoring Alejandro Kirk, during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The high-spending New York Mets were assured their first last-place finish since 2003, losing to the Washington Nationals 7-6 Friday night as Josiah Gray earned his first major league save in his first home appearance in more than two years,

Dylan Crews homered for the Nationals (76-84), who have won nine of 10 and are guaranteed fourth in the NL East. They have been fourth or fifth for seven straight seasons since winning the 2019 World Series,

New York (73-87), which began the season with a major league record $358.4 million payroll, will finish last for the first time since it was 66-95 in 2002.

Bo Bichette and Carson Benge homered for the Mets. Benge became the first Mets rookie with 20 homers and 20 steals in a season.

Gray worked around Juan Soto’s two-out walk in the ninth, getting Bichette to hit a soft grounder to the mound to cap his first outing at Nationals Park since April 4, 2024. An All-Star in 2023, Gray underwent Tommy John surgery the following year and did not return to the major leagues until last week.

Gus Varland (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Jonathan Pintaro (2-3) was the loser.

New York RHP Jonah Tong (2-2, 4.21 ERA) starts as the series continues Saturday in a game moved up to 12:35 p.m. because of rain forecast later in the day. LHP Connelly Early (7-5, 3.44), acquired from Boston for Curtis Mead on July 26, will come off the injured list to make his first start for the Nationals.

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Washington Nationals' Brady House, left, comes in to score on a wild pitch by New York Mets pitcher Jonathan Pintaro, right, during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals' Andres Chaparro, bottom, slides home to score on a wild pitch by New York Mets pitcher Jonathan Pintaro, top, during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets' Juan Soto slides home to score on a sacrifice fly hit by Mark Vientos during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals pitcher Andrew Alvarez throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)