Junior Caminero and the Rays had another loose night in a 10-1 win over the Athletics on Thursday, with Tampa Bay’s 23-year-old third baseman finding time for a little bullpen hospitality between innings.
The result
Caminero chased a foul ball down the left-field line and wound up near Oakland’s bullpen. Athletics reliever Luis Medina offered him a cup of water after the long run, and Caminero accepted it, took a drink and tossed the cup away before jogging back to third base.
It was a small moment in a stretch when just about everything has been going Caminero’s way. Last Friday, he launched his 40th homer on a walk-off shot that put Tampa Bay into the postseason. He followed it Tuesday with another game-ending home run against the A’s, giving him two walk-off blasts in five days.
Thursday’s victory did not require another late-inning rescue, but Caminero’s season remains the engine behind the good mood around the club. He owns a .895 OPS and 41 home runs, numbers that have placed him firmly in the American League MVP conversation.
For Caminero, the water break was another sign of a player enjoying a breakout year while his club keeps winning.
