Caminero’s tiebreaking – Junior Caminero hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Sunday at Angel Stadium to avoid a series sweep.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Rays were running out of chances to salvage the weekend in Angel Stadium, and by the time Junior Caminero stepped in during the eighth, it looked like their momentum might finally snap into place.
Caminero delivered a tiebreaking two-run homer to left field. sending Tampa Bay past the Angels 8-3 and stopping Los Angeles from completing a sweep. Victor Mesa Jr. later added a two-run homer in a five-run eighth. one of the ways the Rays erased the sting of dropping the first two games of the visit.
Tampa Bay’s rebound was built on a late surge that started with a leadoff walk. Cedric Mullins drew a walk from Sam Bachman (1-1) before Caminero ended a 10-game homer drought with his 15th home run. Hunter Feduccia followed with an RBI single, and Mesa struck next—his third career homer off Bachman. Bachman hadn’t allowed a homer since May 5.
For the Angels, it was a rough finish to a promising stretch. Donovan Walton hit his first homer for Los Angeles, but the Angels’ four-game winning streak ended. The season has been dismal overall. but heading into Sunday the last-place Angels had won five of six. including both home series this week.
On the mound, Kevin Kelly (4-2) worked two scoreless innings in a Rays bullpen game. Garrett Cleavinger then got out of trouble in the eighth after Craig Kimbrel created a bases-loaded, one-out jam. Kimbrel walked two and hit a batter in his third appearance for Tampa Bay, and Cleavinger managed to escape.
Earlier in the game, the Rays had their first momentum in place. Chandler Simpson added a two-run single in the third, and Ben Williamson hit his second career homer in the fourth to make it 3-1 for Tampa Bay.
The Angels had their own physical moments, too. Wade Meckler left in the fifth inning after crashing into the wall while trying to catch Williamson’s homer. And after a tying threat developed. the game tightened again: Walton connected in the fifth for his first major league homer since 2024. and it was only the fifth homer of his seven-year career. Jo Adell poked a tying single through the infield moments later.
But Los Angeles couldn’t keep the run rolling. The Rays’ eighth inning did the damage.
There were also concerns on the Angels’ side even before the late inning fireworks. Starter Grayson Rodriguez left the game with low back tightness in the third inning after throwing 47 pitches.
The win moved the Rays to a stretch that’s been uneven—but not hopeless. Tampa Bay had won four of six after losing the first two games of the weekend trip.
Up next, the road trip continues for Tampa Bay at Dodger Stadium. Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.43 ERA) takes the mound Monday night. For the Angels, Walbert Ureña (4-4, 2.44 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Monday night at Arizona, with five consecutive outstanding starts heading into that matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays Los Angeles Angels Junior Caminero Victor Mesa Jr. Angel Stadium MLB scores Nick Martinez Walbert Ureña
Tiebreaker homer?? Sounds like the refs or something messed up earlier lol.
I didn’t even know Tampa could come back like that. Two-run homer in the 8th and it’s 8-3, that’s wild. Also Angels had a 4-game streak then poof gone.
So Kimbrel walked two and hit a guy then still “escaped”?? I guess that’s baseball math where it’s not a disaster unless it’s a disaster. Funny how they mention Angels were last place but were winning a ton like literally the day before.
The Rays were “running out of chances” but then it turned in one inning like magic. I’m confused though—if it was a bullpen game, why did they even have chances to begin with? Angel Stadium always feels cursed when it’s sweep time, idk.