Junior Caminero launches Rays into postseason with 2-run homer for walk-off win over Astros
Junior Caminero hit his 40th home run of the season to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-1 walk-off win over the Houston Astros on Friday. With the victory, the Rays became the first MLB team this season to clinch a postseason berth.
Tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, Jonathan Aranda hit a one-out double off Astros reliever Bryan Abreu. Abreu followed up with a 97 mph high fastball toward the middle of the strike zone that Caminero blasted into the left-field seats. And the celebration began at Tropicana Field.
At 88-59, the Rays have the best record in the American League, three games better than the New York Yankees and eight ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
Caminero’s homer also moved him two ahead of Yordan Alvarez for the AL home run lead as the Astros slugger is pursuing MLB’s first Triple Crown since 2012. Alvarez did not play in Friday’s game due to a sore right ankle injured while running the bases on Thursday.
Rays starter Drew Rasmussen allowed only one run despite giving up eight hits, He tallied four strikeouts with no walks in seven innings, throwing 92 pitches. Tyler Wells and Bryan Baker each followed with a scoreless inning to keep the score tied going into the ninth.
This story will be updated with more information.
