TORONTO — The Tampa Bay Rays took three of four games from the Toronto Blue Jays this week but fell 3-1 in the series finale at Rogers Centre, heading back to Tropicana Field with a two-game lead atop the American League East.
Shane Bieber dominated the Rays in the finale, limiting them to three hits and no walks while his lineup posted seven 1-2-3 innings. Third baseman Junior Caminero, speaking through interpreter Kevin Vera, kept the series in perspective. “Obviously, today you want to win the fourth game and get the sweep, but you’ve still got to be grateful for the three games that you won,” Caminero said. “We wanted to go home happy, but we’re happy going home with the series.”
The series victory was the Rays’ first four-game series win since May 2024 and came on the heels of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Despite finishing the road trip 3-5 against two division rivals, Tampa Bay’s lead over the Yankees for the AL’s best record shrank only from three games to two — the latest into a season the Rays have led the division since they last won it in 2021.
Left-hander Ian Seymour, who allowed two runs over six innings in relief of opener Casey Legumina, credited his teammates for the series result. “That’s a credit to the three guys who pitched and the offense coming alive for those three games,” Seymour said. “To take three out of four on the road is not easy to do.” Seymour was also candid about his mistakes in the finale, including a walk to No. 9 hitter Myles Straw in the seventh that led to a run. “I just can’t walk the nine-hitter,” Seymour said. “Could have kept it to a one-run game, and maybe something different happens in the ninth.”
Caminero’s costly error in the first inning — a failed barehand attempt on a grounder by Alejandro Kirk that allowed Ernie Clement to score — set the tone for a frustrating afternoon. “It might be a tough play, but look, I’m not going to use it as an excuse,” Caminero said. “I should have went and used my glove.” Catcher Hunter Feduccia, who doubled and scored the Rays’ lone run on a Yandy Díaz single in the second, struck an optimistic note. “The vibes are good. I think we’re playing good baseball right now,” Feduccia said. “Just keep it going.”
The Rays now open a nine-game homestand at Tropicana Field, where they hold a 35-15 record this season — the best home mark in the Majors. Tampa Bay will send its top three starters, Shane McClanahan, Nick Martinez and Drew Rasmussen, to the mound against the Cleveland Guardians before hosting the White Sox and Rangers leading up to the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. “Every game at this time of year is important,” Seymour said. “Try to distance ourselves and maintain the lead that we have.” Manager Kevin Cash echoed the sentiment: “We had a nice run here of three games, three solid games. Continue that when we get back home.”