Junior Caminero reaches four times in loss to Nats

The Rays will utilize the same starting nine that they used in Thursday’s loss in Game 3, but the batting order has changed. Simpson moves up from fifth to third while Junior Caminero slides into the cleanup spot. Here’s the full lineup that the Rays will deploy against Shawn Armstrong and a host of Guardians’ relievers: Yandy Diaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Simpson (LF), Junior Caminero (3B), Liam Hicks (C), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Richie Palacios (2B) and Taylor Walls (SS).

It was a tough day for Caminero, who was struck out by Gavin Williams, Daniel Espino, and Cade Smith. The Rays’ third baseman has enjoyed a solid postseason but is just 2-for-11 in the first three games of this series with a 7/1 K/BB ratio. He’ll need to adjust to how the Guardians are pitching him if the Rays have any hope of advancing to the World Series.

Caminero slapped an RBI single into left field to give Tampa Bay an early advantage, but they were unable to hang on in the opener of a best-of-seven series. The big concern for the Rays moving forward is Caminero’s health after he somehow managed to remain in the contest following a massive collision with teammate Jonny DeLuca down the left-field line in the ninth inning. It looked like DeLuca got the worst of it, but the primary point of contact was Caminero’s left shoulder and ribcage. Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters afterwards that he got the wind knocked out of him and seems to be completely fine. All signs point to Caminero being ready for Tuesday’s Game 2 showdown at Tropicana Field.

Vilade posted an .818 OPS against southpaws during the regular season and will get a chance to face Guardians starter Foster Griffin at Tropicana Field to kick off the best-of-seven showdown. The 27-year-old lefty-masher blasted a solo homer off Yankees ace Max Fried during Tampa Bay’s series-clinching victory last week. Here’s the full lineup: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Junior Caminero (3B), Vilade (LF), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Ben Williamson (2B), Taylor Walls (SS) and Nick Fortes (C).

Rays manager Kevin Cash isn’t making any changes following a series-opening victory where Jonathan Aranda’s solo homer was enough for a nearly-flawless Drew Rasmussen, who took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning. Caminero, who is likely to finish near the top of AL MVP Award balloting, finished a phenomenal regular season with 42 home runs, reaching the lofty 40-homer plateau for the second straight season. Here’s the full lineup: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Junior Caminero (3B), Liam Hicks (C), Chandler Simpson (LF), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Richie Palacios (2B) and Taylor Walls (SS).

Caminero is now up to 42 homers on the season, with this one coming in the first off Aaron Nola in the first inning. The 23-year-old also scored three runs and added a single and walk. He’s now driven in 101 runs, giving him back-to-back triple-digit seasons. SImply put, Caminero has established himself as one of the truly elite power hitters in the game in a very short time.

Caminero’s home run was his 41st of the season. He hit a walk-off solo shot off Athletics reliever Elvis Alvarado, complete with Caminero taking no less than 10 seconds to round first base. Caminero has hit two home runs in his last four games. He’s hitting .279 with an .898 OPS and 96 RBI this year.

We wouldn’t have expected anything less from Caminero, whose late-inning heroics gave the Rays a win and clinched them a postseason berth in the process. Stepping up to the plate with a runner on second and one out in the ninth inning, Caminero got a hold of a first-pitch fastball from Bryan Abreu and deposited it 434 feet into deep left-center to give the Rays the walk-off win. It was the 40th homer of the season for Caminero, which now gives him back-to-back seasons with 40-plus homers. Caminero now has three homers this month and is slashing .296/.394/.667 in his last seven games.

Caminero’s home run was his 39th of the season. He hit a solo shot off AJ Smith-Shawver in the first inning. Caminero has hit two home runs in his last three games. He’s hitting .282 with a .904 OPS and 93 RBI this year.

Caminero put the Rays on the board early, taking Jacob deGrom deep for a solo homer in the first inning. He later added a base hit in the eighth. The 23-year-old slugger is hitting .281/.365/.532 with 38 home runs, 87 runs scored, and 91 RBI across 620 plate appearances.