The Rays left Game 1 of the American League Championship Series with a 7-3 loss to Cleveland, but the louder concern inside Tropicana Field came in the ninth inning, when Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca collided while chasing a foul ball down the left-field line. By the end of the night, Tampa Bay believed it had avoided a serious injury to either player.
A ninth-inning collision
- With a runner at second and no outs, Cleveland’s Brayan Rocchio sent a high foul fly toward the Guardians’ bullpen beyond the left-field line.
- DeLuca charged over from left field while Caminero retreated from third base, each trying to make a play on the ball.
- Neither Ray came up with the catch. Their left shoulders appeared to take the brunt of the collision as they crashed together near the bullpen area.
- DeLuca went down hard and rolled into the bullpen bench, then got back to his feet quickly.
- Caminero remained standing briefly before sitting against the low wall separating the field from 162 Landing, visibly hurting after the impact.
- After receiving attention, Caminero stayed in the game and returned to third base as the Tropicana Field sound system played “Gonna Fly Now,” the familiar theme from Rocky.
Caminero remains in the game
Caminero said he felt fine overall afterward, though he acknowledged a headache. Speaking through interpreter Kevin Vera, the third baseman said the main point of contact was his chest and described the headache as a normal lingering effect from taking the hit.
Manager Kevin Cash said Caminero was OK and believed the young star had simply had the wind knocked out of him. Cash said his attention initially went to DeLuca, who rose quickly, and he did not immediately realize Caminero had gone down a few feet away.
“I think he got the wind knocked out of him a little bit,” Cash said. “He seems to be totally fine now.”
DeLuca: two teammates going all out
DeLuca said his left shoulder and hand were sore after the collision, but he did not expect either issue to become a problem. He also expressed confidence that Caminero would be ready to go.
The outfielder saw it as the natural result of two players chasing the same ball in a tight spot, with the noise of a 35,361-person crowd making communication difficult.
“Just two guys going hard at it,” DeLuca said. “It’s pretty noisy, and it’s hard to hear each other. I think Cami’s good. I’m pretty good.”
Tampa Bay now turns to Game 2 of the ALCS after dropping the opener, with its two players appearing to have escaped a frightening ninth-inning moment without a major setback.
