🧹 Rays Sweep Rangers: Bats, Bullpen, and Bobblehead Magic
A dramatic walkoff, elite pitching, and a breakout week from Junior Caminero push Tampa Bay four games over .500 with a series sweep of the Texas Rangers.
I remember when we went into Arlington on our first road trip and got swept, and someone said to me, "This just isn't it. It's going to be a long season." I remember feeling so deflated, because I didn’t believe that. I have felt since the beginning that this team was better than it was playing — and as of recently, they’ve been showing it.
Game 1: Rasmussen Dominates, Caminero Stays Hot
Final: Rays 5, Rangers 1
In the opening game, the Rays returned home to a soggy Steinbrenner Field and didn’t miss a beat. Drew Rasmussen delivered a clinical performance, striking out eight over five shutout innings and extending his scoreless streak to 23 innings — the longest active stretch in MLB.
Rookie Kameron Misner kicked off the scoring with a rainbow solo shot that barely cleared the left-field foul pole. The Rays then capitalized on a sixth-inning Rangers meltdown that included a wild pitch and throwing error, plating three runs on one hit. Junior Caminero added the exclamation mark in the eighth, launching his 14th homer of the season and his fifth in six games.
Game 2: B. Lowe’s Power Surge, Baz Battles Through
Final: Rays 5, Rangers 4
The Rays got going early again in Game 2. Brandon Lowe homered in the first and doubled in a run in the third, continuing his scorching stretch with his seventh long ball in 18 games. That inning turned into a four-run rally as the Rays sent nine men to the plate, capped by a heads-up dash from Jonathan Aranda, who scored from third on a moment of inattention by Texas starter Kumar Rocker.
Shane Baz kept the Rangers scoreless through four before allowing a three-run fifth, but the bullpen — including Pete Fairbanks for the save — shut the door. It marked the 12th straight game Rays pitchers allowed three or fewer earned runs.
Game 3: Wallsy Walks It Off in Style
Final: Rays 4, Rangers 3
On Junior Caminero bobblehead night, the 21-year-old star didn’t disappoint — homering early, then singling home a key ninth-inning run in a wild walkoff finish. Down 3–1 heading into the final frame and with just three hits all game, the Rays rallied against Texas lefty Robert Garcia. Caminero’s RBI single made it 3–2. Then, with the bases loaded and two outs, Taylor Walls hit a slow grounder that second baseman Marcus Semien had no play on. Aranda scored to tie it. Caminero never hesitated — rounding third and sliding in headfirst ahead of the tag to win it.
The walkoff two-run infield single was the first of its kind in MLB since 2009.
Series Superlatives
⭐ MVP: Junior Caminero
3-game line: 2 HR, 4 RBI, go-ahead and game-tying hits, and scored the walkoff run. On his bobblehead night.
🧠 Smartest Play: Jonathan Aranda
Sneaked home on Rocker’s lapse in Game 2 and walked to set up the rally in Game 3.
🪨 Steadiest Hand: Drew Rasmussen
23 straight scoreless innings. He’s not just back — he might be better than ever.
📸 Moment of the Series: Caminero slides in for the walkoff win
The crowd erupted. The dugout exploded. Cami flew.
Tay’s Take:
Rasmussen looks like an ace, Caminero looks like a star, and the Rays look like they believe again. These weren’t clean, textbook wins. They were scrappy, resilient, and loud. And if that’s who this team is becoming… buckle up.