Caminero and Caballero Lead the Comeback Charge: Rays 9, Dodgers 8

Caminero’s game-tying homer and Caballero’s go-ahead shot fueled the Rays to extra-innings victory after the early lead slipped away.

Just when it seemed the Tampa Bay Rays were doomed to blow a multi-run lead for the second night in a row, they clawed their way back, pushing the contest into extra innings. In a dramatic finish, the Rays showed their resilience, overcoming mistakes and capitalizing on clutch performances to secure a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Rays came out swinging at Dodger Stadium, jumping on Clayton Kershaw early and staking an impressive 4-0 lead in the first inning. With Yandy Díaz grounding out to open the game, it seemed like another night of struggle for the 2024 Rays. But then Brandon Lowe doubled, setting the stage for a relentless Rays assault. Junior Caminero wasted no time in making his mark. His sharp single brought Lowe home, igniting the Rays’ offense. Christopher Morel followed with a double, capitalizing on a fielding error by Teoscar Hernández that allowed Caminero to score. By the time Jonny DeLuca’s single brought in two more runs, the Rays had Kershaw on the ropes, putting up four runs in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, Taj Bradley was nearly untouchable through the first three innings. After only allowing a leadoff single to Shohei Ohtani, he retired the side in order in the second and third innings.

But as dominant as Bradley was early on, the fourth inning opened the door for the Dodgers to stay in the game. It started with Shohei Ohtani reaching on catcher interference. Then, Mookie Betts doubled to bring in the Dodgers’ first run. A dramatic double play, with Freddie Freeman flying out to left and Betts getting tagged out at third, momentarily halted the Dodgers’ momentum. The call was overturned after it was ruled that Caminero did not keep the tag on Betts when he came off the base. Teoscar Hernández wasn’t deterred. He crushed a two-run homer to bring the Dodgers within one. Bradley regrouped, striking Gavin Lux and getting Will Smith to lineout to close the inning.

The Rays offense looked primed to get a lot of production in the top of the fifth inning. Caminero hit a leadoff single and advanced to third on a double from Dylan Carlson. The Dodgers intentionally walked Jonny DeLuca to load the bases. Josh Lowe came through with a sacrifice fly to extend the Rays lead to 5-3.

But that lead would evaporate in the bottom of the inning. Things got off to a rough start as Max Muncy was created with a double on a popup that landed between Rays fielders and should have easily been caught. Two batters later, Miguel Rojas singled to bring home Muncy, and Shohei Ohtani launched a two-run bomb off Bradley, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 lead. Suddenly, the Rays found themselves in familiar territory—blowing a multi-run lead, just as they had done the night before.

The seventh inning saw the Dodgers tack on another run when Rojas homered off Joel Kuhnel, making it 7-5 and further deepening the hole the Rays had dug for themselves.

However, the Rays were far from finished. In the top of the eighth, José Caballero stepped up again, ripping a double to put runners at second and third. A sacrifice fly from Díaz brought home Josh Lowe, cutting the deficit to 7-6 but turning into a double play as Alex Jackson was tagged out at second base. The inning ended with Brandon Lowe popping out to shortstop.

Down to their final three outs, the Rays needed a hero. That’s when Junior Caminero, a sparkplug all game, came through again. Facing Evan Phillips, Caminero sent a solo shot to center field, tying the game at 7-7 and sending the game into extra innings. It was a clutch moment that underscored the resilience the Rays had shown throughout the game.

The momentum had clearly shifted, and the Rays capitalized in the top of the 10th. José Caballero, integral to the Rays’ success all night, came through with a two-run homer that gave the Rays a 9-7 lead. Jonny DeLuca, the free runner placed on second to start the inning, scored on the play. Ben Rortvedt, pinch-hitting for Alex Jackson, added a double, but the Rays couldn’t bring him around. Still, the two-run cushion felt enormous heading into the bottom of the 10th.

With Garrett Cleavinger on the mound, the Rays secured the win. The Dodgers scored one on a sacrifice fly from Betts, but Cleavinger bore down, getting Freeman to ground out to end the game.

The Rays overcame mistakes, showed resilience, and battled back to earn a thrilling 9-8 victory in extra innings. Junior Caminero and José Caballero were the night's stars, delivering in the clutch and ensuring the Rays walked away with a hard-fought win.

These two teams play again tomorrow, and a series win is at stake. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.