Caminero Returns To Give Some Brief Hope In Another Loss: Astros 3, Rays 2

Tonight was supposed to be about the return of the No. 2 prospect in baseball, Junior Caminero, to the Tampa Bay Rays from Triple-A Durham.

Instead, Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez broke the scoreboard in Tropicana Field during batting practice before a game with little offensive highlights for the Rays to show anyway.

After a scoreless first inning from both sides, the game came alive in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Caminero had his first at-bat in his return and struck out swinging. Following Caminero’s strikeout, José Caballero laced a double down the left field line, setting the stage for Josh Lowe, who promptly delivered an RBI single, giving the Rays an early 1-0 lead. Lowe wasn’t done contributing, as he stole second base to build on some early momentum. However, the Rays couldn’t capitalize further, leaving Lowe stranded when Jonny DeLuca grounded out to end the inning.

In the top of the third, the Astros quickly answered back. After Shane Baz retired the first two Astros hitters, Chas McCormick and Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman came through with a clutch double, his 25th of the season. Yordan Alvarez walked in the next at-bat. Yainer Diaz then stepped up, slashing an RBI single that brought Bregman home, tying the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the fourth Caminero smoked a ball for an infield single and the Rays only hit of the inning.

Baz, who had been sharp early, escaped the inning without further damage.

With the game still tied at 1-1, Bregman came to the plate in the top of the fifth with two outs. On a 0-1 count, he turned on a slider and sent it soaring into the left-field seats, his 19th home run of the season and his fourth consecutive game with a homer. The solo shot gave the Astros a 2-1 lead and continued Bregman’s hot streak at the plate.

In the sixth, the Astros looked to build on their lead. After Yainer Diaz struck out to start the inning, Jeremy Peña, who had been quiet for the night, came to life. Peña crushed a fastball over the left-center field wall for his 11th home run of the season, extending the Astros’ lead to 3-1. Victor Caratini followed with a walk, but Shane Baz managed to limit the damage by retiring the next two batters, keeping the Rays within striking distance.

Yusei Kikuchi delivered a solid performance for the Astros and was a joy to watch for anyone not rooting for the Rays. Kikuchi allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out five.

Baz finished the night with seven innings pitched, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six. It was a solid outing, but the struggling Rays’ offense left him with the loss.

The bottom of the eighth inning brought hope for the Rays. After Ryan Pressly replaced Bryan Abreau in relief for the Astros. Jonny DeLuca struck out to start the inning. But the Rays then mounted a rally. Alex Jackson singled, followed by a Yandy Díaz single that pushed Jackson to second. An ensuing walk to Dylan Carlson loaded the bases, putting the pressure squarely on the Astros’ bullpen.

Brandon Lowe then grounded out to first, but it was enough to score Jackson, cutting the Astros’ lead to 3-2 and advancing the other runners to second and third. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, the Rays were a hit away from taking the lead. However, Abreu dug deep, inducing a groundout from Christopher Morel on a slider to end the inning and preserve the Astros’ slim lead.

With the game on the line, Astros closer Josh Hader took the mound in the bottom of the ninth. The Rays’ hopes for a dramatic comeback rested on the shoulders of Junior Caminero to lead off the inning. Hader struck out Caminero on a high fastball, setting the tone for the inning. José Caballero popped out to first baseman Yainer Diaz, leaving the Rays down to their final out. Josh Lowe, who had driven in the Rays’ first run, stepped up as their last hope. But Hader was unyielding, getting Lowe to ground out to first, where Diaz flipped to Hader, covering the bag for the final out. The Astros’ closer secured the 3-2 victory.

Tomorrow, the Rays will attempt to avoid the sweep by winning the final game of the series for the third series in a row. Since their off day it has been a series of loss, loss, win like a game of duck, duck, goose. Zack Littell will take the mound with first pitch scheduled for 6:50pm ET.

Let’s hope for a goose.