Tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the ninth against the Houston Astros on Sept. 11 at Tropicana Field, Rays All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero sent the inning’s first pitch to the stands and the Tampa Bay Rays to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
The playoff-clinching 88th win to begin the series made the Rays the quickest team to secure a playoff birth this season.
The two-run homer was Caminero’s 40th of the year, making him the first player in franchise history to hit 40 home runs in back-to-back seasons and the second player in the modern era to do so in age-22-or-younger seasons. Before Caminero’s home-run ball even reached the cheering Rays fans, the team’s dugout had already cleared to wait for Caminero at home plate.
Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez did not play due to ankle soreness, but the American League MVP candidate witnessed Caminero receive MVP chants of his own. Alvarez’s lead over the AL batting title (.310) did increase however, as Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (.306) and designated hitter Yandy Diaz (.303) both failed to record a hit.
Four strikeouts — and one earned run allowed — from starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen through seven innings followed by two scoreless outings from relief pitchers Tyler Wells and Bryan Baker kept the game in reach despite the Rays offense ending with just four hits.
“The offense came through exactly when we needed them too,” Rasmussen said in the locker room postgame.
The Rays second hit came off the bat of Victor Mesa Jr. in the fifth for the outfielder’s 13th home run of the year.
The game nearly ended a batter earlier when Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda struck a four-seamer to right field that nearly crept over the wall.
Now up one game to open the series, the Rays continue their push for the American League East division title during Game 2 Saturday at 6:10 p.m. EST.