Another day, another Caminero blast as Rays cruise past Diamondbacks

John Romano, Tampa Bay Times on Jun 26, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — That didn’t take very long.

A few days ago, there were rumblings about Junior Caminero’s diminishing power numbers. After bashing 45 home runs in 2025, Caminero had a respectable, but unspectacular, 15 homers through 75 games this season.

It’s probably best to consider that matter now closed.

Caminero blasted a three-run homer to dead center field in the first inning on Friday night to provide Tampa Bay with all of the scoring needed in a 6-1 victory against Arizona in front of an announced crowd of 12,972 at Tropicana Field.

The homer was Caminero’s fifth in a span of 12 at-bats. He’s now at 20, which puts him on pace for 41 this season.

Tampa Bay’s offense went quiet after Caminero’s homer, with Arizona starter Zac Gallen retiring 15 consecutive hitters at one point. The Rays finally expanded the lead in the seventh with a leadoff homer by Cedric Mullins and back-to-back RBI hits by Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda.

While Caminero and Co. were circling the bases, Nick Martinez turned in his most effective start of June. The veteran right-hander went 5 2/3 innings while giving up only a first-inning homer to Geraldo Perdomo.

The defense did its part, too, with Mullins, Jonny DeLuca, Taylor Walls and Aranda all turning in highlight-worthy plays.