Rays beat Giants with HRs by Caminero, Diaz and strong McClanahan start

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on May 1, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Junior Caminero got a pregame clubhouse visit Friday from former Ray Willy Adames, who talked to him about how to handle some ancillary aspects of his role as the star and face of the Tampa Bay team.

Then Caminero went out and showed part of why and how he ascended to that position, lacing a 432-foot homer to left that helped the Rays to a 3-0 win over the Giants at Tropicana Field.

Yandy Diaz also homered, Shane McClanahan worked six strong innings, and the Rays made several sharp defensive plays in improving to 19-12.

There was some potential reason for concern, however, as Diaz was removed from the game for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning due to what the team called left side tightness.

McClanahan scattered five hits, didn’t walk any and struck out five in winning his second straight game and third in his last four following his return from a two-plus-season injury absence.

In doing so, he continued the Rays’ run of strong starting pitching with their eighth straight outing of allowing two or fewer runs. Overall, it was the eighth straight game the starters and relievers combined to allow three or fewer runs, tying the fourth longest such streak in franchise history.

Diaz homered leading off the second against Giants starter Robbie Ray. Besides being his fifth homer of the season, it was significant in several ways. It was his:

— 104th homer as a Ray, tying Carl Crawford for seventh on the franchise all-time list

— 300th career extra base hit and 283rd as a Ray, tying Carlos Pena for seventh most on the franchise list

— 996th career hit, closing in on becoming the 20th Cuban-born player with 1,000

Caminero made it 2-0 in the fourth, with his ninth homer of the season. Despite his slow start, he is now on pace for 47 homers, which would top his 2025 breakout season of 45.