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Rays become first team to clinch playoff spot this season on Caminero's walk-off homer
Junior Caminero’s 40th homer sealed Tampa Bay’s first postseason berth, and the Rays became the first major league team to clinch a 2026 playoff spot.
- On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a 2026 postseason berth, defeating the Houston Astros 3-1 at Tropicana Field on Junior Caminero's 417-foot walk-off home run in the ninth inning.
- Tampa Bay has held the American League's best record for 115 days this season, marking the club's first return to the playoffs since 2023 after early success.
- Starter Drew Rasmussen pitched seven innings of one-run ball, while Victor Mesa Jr. contributed a 415-foot solo home run in the fifth and closer Bryan Baker earned a scoreless ninth.
- Caminero leads the American League with 40 home runs, joining Aaron Judge as the only active players with consecutive 40-homer seasons, cementing the Rays as the first major league club to clinch.
- The team now aims to secure the division title and the American League's best record, finishing the regular season with road trips to Philadelphia and Yankee Stadium Sept. 22-24.
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The Hamilton Spectator
The Hamilton SpectatorJunior Caminero’s walk-off homer sends Rays to playoff-clinching 3-1 win over Astros
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Junior Caminero hit a game-ending, two-run homer in the ninth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night. Caminero’s 417-foot shot to left-center off Bryan Abreu (6-4) was his 40th of the season and sparked a joyous...
Winnipeg Free Press+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Junior Caminero's walk-off homer sends Rays to playoff-clinching 3-1 win over Astros
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Junior Caminero hit a game-ending, two-run homer in the ninth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
·Winnipeg, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
L 22%
C 64%
14%
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