Rays lose Junior Caminero to bruised jaw but extend win streak to 6

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 28, 2026

Published in Baseball

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The Rays lost All-Star slugger Junior Caminero early in Tuesday’s game, when he fouled off a ball in his first-inning at-bat that bounced up and hit the right side of his jaw.

As big of a loss as that was, the Rays extended their win streak to a season-high-matching six games with a 1-0 victory over the Guardians in Cleveland.

They improved to 18-11, moving to seven games over .500 for the first time since July 9, and are an American League best 16-6 since their 2-5 start.

Nick Martinez delivered another strong start, working into the eighth. Jonathan Aranda delivered the Rays’ only run with a two-out single in the fifth. And the trio of Ian Seymour, Kevin Kelly and Cole Sulser combined to get the final six outs.

The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Aranda delivered his 25th RBI of the season, second most in the American League, and ninth over his last seven games.

Taylor Walls drew a one-walk from Tanner Bibee, went to third on a two-out single by Ben Williamson, who replaced Caminero, and scored on Aranda’s single to right.

Martinez was lifted after a leadoff walk to Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.

Seymour came in and walked pinch-hitter Rhys Hoskins. No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio bunted the runners to third and second, and the Rays then intentionally walked Steven Kwan to load the bases.

With Guardians star Jose Ramirez at the plate, the Rays brought in Kelly, and Kelly got him out on a fly to deep center.

Sulser got two quick outs to start the ninth, then Angel Martinez drove a ball to deep center that Cedric Mullins couldn’t corral. After Sulser fell behind Bazzana 2-0, the Rays opted to walk him.

Martinez extended his season-opening streak of starts with two or fewer runs allowed to a career single-season-high six with another strong outing.

He allowed only three hits and the one walk to his last batter, striking out four while throwing only 78 pitches (54 strikes). He made heavy use of his nasty change-up, which averaged 78.5 mph.

The update on Caminero was relatively positive, with the diagnosis of a contusion on the right side of his jaw and day-to-day status. The Rays are slated for a day game at Cleveland on Wednesday and then have a team off-day on Thursday.