Rays rally in 8th inning to tie Giants, then score walk-off win in 10th

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on May 3, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays just needed a little time to get going Sunday.

Shut out by the San Francisco Giants through the first seven innings, they bunted home the tying run in the eighth, then won in the 10th when Jonathan Aranda singled home Chandler Simpson.

The result was a 2-1 victory to complete a series sweep and their MLB-best 19th win over their last 26 games for a 21-12 start.

After Ian Seymour pitched a quick top of the 10th, the Rays started the bottom of the inning with the speedy Simpson placed at second. The Giants walked slugger Junior Caminero to face Aranda, who came in tied for the American League lead with 27 RBIs.

He quickly made it 28 with a soft single over the second baseman.

The Giants took the lead at the start, scoring a first-inning run off Steven Matz.

Lefty slugger Rafael Devers softly hit a ball — 59.1 mph off the bat — just past third base, then flexed his muscles toward the visiting dugout for fun. Casey Schmitt followed with a single on an 0-2 sinker to center.

Matz worked six innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out one. He continued the Rays’ streak of starters allowing two or fewer earned runs to 10 games, their longest in a single season since September 2024.

After wasting a prime chance in the sixth inning, the Rays got even in the eighth, though they could have had more than one run.

Caminero led off with a walk, then hustled to third when Aranda followed with a single. Cleanup-hitting Ryan Vilade went down on a knee to push a bunt toward first, scoring a sliding and jubilant Camineo ahead of the throw.

A sacrifice bunt by Jonny DeLuca moved the runners to second and third.

Ben Williamson then lined a ball that third baseman Matt Chapman apparently caught just above turf level. He then stepped on third and threw home, with the ball hitting Aranda before he crossed the plate.

The umps said Williamson was out on the caught liner, and Aranda was doubled off third. They discussed and stuck with the call as Rays manager Kevin Cash went out to clarify, and said the Chapman catch was not a reviewable play.

The Rays had a prime chance to at least get even in the sixth, getting two on with one out and loading the bases with two, but failed to score.

With Aranda aboard on a one-out single, Vilade hit what looked like an inning-ending, double-play grounder. But shortstop Willy Adames, a former Ray, misplayed the ball and then was late with the throw to first.

That ended Giants starter Tyler Mahle’s day, and the Rays brought in DeLuca to hit for Jake Fraley against lefty Matt Gage. DeLuca was called out on a not-quite-checked-enough swing for strike three. Williamson worked a seven-pitch walk to load the bases.

That seemed a prime spot to pinch-hit Yandy Diaz, their .333-hitting designated hitter, but the righty swinger apparently wasn’t recovered enough yet from the tight left oblique that forced him from Friday’s game.

Instead, struggling lefty Cedric Mullins flied out.

____