ATLANTA — Junior Caminero launched his AL-leading 39th home run, a 455-foot blast, and the Tampa Bay Rays hammered four homers in a series-opening rout of the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, pushing the club closer to its first postseason appearance since 2023.
Caminero crushed a 2-0 fastball from Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver out to left-center field in the first inning for the solo shot — the second-longest of his young career — to surpass Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead. But teammates praised him just as much for hustling down the line to beat out a potential double-play grounder in the third inning ahead of catcher Liam Hicks’ two-run homer. “That’s all you control. Get on base [and run] really, really hard,” Caminero said. “No matter what, if it’s a bad day, good day, you’ve got to be there and help your team.”
Hicks, who hit his 18th homer of the season over the head of right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr., also played a pivotal role behind the plate. With the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning, he successfully challenged a 2-2 changeup from starter Freddy Peralta that was initially called a ball, turning it into an inning-ending strike. “In that moment, you have to use it. That could be the game right there,” Hicks said. “In the big leagues, anyone can beat anyone. But it’s good to go up against one of the best teams in the league and be able to compete right with them, show that we’re one of those teams, as well.”
Peralta delivered six innings of one-run ball on 92 pitches, his third straight quality start since joining the Rays before the trade deadline. The right-hander allowed only five hits — all singles — and a walk, retiring 16 of the final 18 batters he faced after a 32-pitch first inning. He threw only 60 pitches over his final five frames. “All the work that I have done since I got here, and even when I was struggling, it’s paying off,” Peralta said. “Just reminding myself who I am.” Manager Kevin Cash echoed that confidence: “He should have a lot of confidence. He’s a really good pitcher. The last three [starts] for us is probably [a] closer version to the guy he’s been his entire career.”
Atlanta native Chandler Simpson made the homecoming count, swiping his 40th stolen base of the season — in front of a section packed with family and friends, including his parents, Ralph and Edye — before scoring on a single by birthday boy Victor Mesa Jr. in the third inning. Simpson, who stole 44 bases last season, joined Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton as the only players in franchise history with multiple 40-steal seasons. He also became only the fifth player in the modern era to reach 40 steals in each of his first two major league campaigns, joining Chad Curtis, Delino DeShields, Vince Coleman and Bert Daniels. “Just blessed with the abilities that I’ve been given,” Simpson said. “And the fact I was able to get 40 at home, I’m definitely gonna remember that forever.”
The Rays and Braves continue the series at Truist Park with the next game in the 404 area code that Simpson calls home.