Rays edge Angels 5-4 on Aug. 7 as Junior Caminero crushes his 30th HR and Griffin Jax saves the game in a stunning debut. Recap the thrilling finish!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the dog days of August were getting the best of them, the Tampa Bay Rays pulled a gutsy win out of their hat in Anaheim. In a 5-4 nail-biter against the Angels on Wednesday night, the Rays showcased the very blend of young power and clutch relief they'll need to turn this season around. The stars of the show were none other than Junior Caminero, who blasted his way to the 30-homer club, and newly acquired reliever Griffin Jax, who faced a trial by fire and emerged unscathed.
Three batters, bases loaded, no outs, one-run lead. Griffin Jax's response? Strikeout, strikeout, strikeout. Welcome to the Rays.
It’s officially the summer of Junior. The Rays' phenom put on a power display, single-handedly keeping the offense afloat early. He kicked things off with a colossal 447-foot, two-run homer in the first inning—a new career-long for the slugger. As if that wasn't enough, he launched his 30th home run of the season in the third. It was his third two-homer game this year, and the second blast also pushed him past the 100-career RBI mark. At just 21 years old, Caminero is not just the future of this offense; he is the present.
Talk about making a first impression. Griffin Jax, acquired from the Twins just a week ago for Taj Bradley, was thrown into the ultimate high-leverage situation. Manager Kevin Cash called his number in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded, nobody out, and a slim 5-4 lead. What followed was pure magic. Jax proceeded to strike out all three Angels he faced, preserving the lead and electrifying the dugout. It was a masterclass in poise and a performance that immediately endears him to the Rays faithful.
While Caminero and Jax stole the headlines, this was a true team win. Catcher Nick Fortes, who came over from the Marlins, finally got his first hit as a Ray, and it was a big one—a solo home run in the second inning. Then, with the game tied 4-4 in the seventh, it was Christopher Morel who played hero, launching the go-ahead solo shot that ultimately secured the victory. These are the kinds of timely hits from across the lineup that have been missing during the team's recent slide.
Unfortunately, the win came with a cost. Center fielder Jonny DeLuca, who just returned from a long IL stint, had to leave the game in the sixth inning with right hamstring tightness. The injury occurred as he legged out a triple, a flash of speed that sadly ended his night. His status is now uncertain, a tough blow for a player who had just battled back. On the pitching side, starter Shane Baz was dominant, racking up nine strikeouts in just four innings, and Pete Fairbanks shut the door for his 19th save, capping a combined 16-strikeout effort from the staff.
After a much-deserved day off on Thursday, the Rays will look to build on this momentum as they head to Seattle for a crucial series. The road doesn't get any easier, with a marquee matchup on Friday night featuring Drew Rasmussen against the Mariners' ace, Luis Castillo. This win over the Angels was just one game, but with the team still playing their 'home' games at Steinbrenner Field, every victory, especially one this dramatic, feels a little bigger. Let's hope the clutch performances are a sign of things to come.
