The Tampa Bay Rays beat the San Diego Padres 7-6 on Saturday at Tropicana Field. The win gave the Rays their 25th series victory of the season.
“Big win; it was becoming chances of being a frustrating loss,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Our backs [were] kind of against the wall, but the guys stayed at it.”
Despite taking the lead twice in the game, the Padres have not held a lead for a full inning in the series. Tampa Bay secured its 33rd comeback victory of the season, tied for the most of any team in the American League.
“That’s the sign of a pretty good offense and a team that understands,” Cash said about the comeback.
Both the upper deck and the Rays offense were open for business in the first inning, as Yandy Díaz hit a first-pitch double into the right field gap. Recently-acquired catcher Liam Hicks brought him home on a single, giving Tampa Bay an early lead. Since joining the Rays, Hicks has a .311 batting average, the second-highest mark on the Rays behind Chandler Simpson.
Padres left fielder Dustin Harris, a Tampa native, hit a leadoff single in the top of the third. 2015 Rays draft pick Jake Cronenworth then hit a double over Cedric Mullins’ head, allowing Harris to tie the game.
Tampa Bay reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning on a Jonathan Aranda home run to center field. Aranda’s home run went 453 feet, the third longest ball hit in Tropicana Field this season.
After four scoreless frames, Padres first baseman Ty France hit a deep fly ball that barely stayed fair for a two-run home run. The homer gave San Diego their first lead of the series.
However, much like the third inning, the Rays immediately responded, as Junior Caminero hit a home run on a full-count to tie the game once again. The home run was Caminero’s first since August 11 and his first at home since July 31.
“[Caminero’s homer] was impressive, [but I’m] not surprised because we see it every single day in batting practice,” Cash said. “Just shows you how strong he is.”
Garrett Cleavinger gave up three earned runs in 0.1 innings pitched in the seventh inning, marking the first time he has given up three or more runs in an appearance since August 30, 2024, which also came against the Padres.
Following the seventh-inning stretch, the Rays responded once again. A Richie Palacios full-count walk, a Mullins single, and a Taylor Walls single loaded the bases for Díaz, who hit a deep ball into center.
Palacios would score easily, but Walls was in a rundown before Padres second baseman Luis Rengifo committed an error that allowed two more runners to cross home plate. On the throw, Rengifo hurt his right leg and had to be carted off the field.
“Pretty fortunate with what happened on the bases,” Cash said. “Certainly hope Luis Rengifo is okay; that did not look good.”
Simpson, who leads the MLB in batting average since the All-Star Break with a .384 AVG, came up clutch for the Rays with an RBI single to give them a 7-6 lead.
“Anytime a runner is on third base, I think Chandler might be as equipped as anybody in baseball to put a ball in play,” Cash said. “Morejon is as tough as any righty [or] lefty you’re going to face.”
In the ninth inning, Rays closer Bryan Baker converted his 28th-consecutive save situation, the most in franchise history and tied for the most in 2026 behind San Diego’s Mason Miller. When leading after eight innings this season, the Rays are 73-0.
Next up
Tampa Bay will host the final game of the three-game set on Sunday. With a win, the Rays would secure their 14th series sweep of 2026.
“We are going to keep it going,” Simpson said postgame.
First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. on August 30.