Rays breeze by Phillies, but Griffin Jax leaves early with bruised back

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Sep 26, 2026

Published in Baseball

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PHILADELPHIA — The only real negative for the Tampa Bay Rays from Saturday’s 12-1 win over the Phillies was the pain in the right side of Griffin Jax’s back.

Jax was hit by a 104 mph line drive off the bat of Trea Turner in the third inning, and it looked to sting, as he bent over and then walked gingerly off the field.

The ball caromed to shortstop Taylor Walls, allowing the Rays to convert the final out of the inning. Jax did not return for the fourth.

The Rays said Jax — who is competing for a starting role in the upcoming best-of-five American League Division Series — sustained a low back contusion.

Jax was hit in a similar spot by a line drive during the second inning of a May 26 game in Baltimore. He finished the inning then left that game but didn’t miss a start, pitching again on June 1.

Though Saturday’s game started 36 minutes late and was played through some rain and a damp chill, the Rays had a good time, logging their 98th win, third most in franchise history.

With a win in Sunday’s regular-season finale, they would tie the 2023 team for second most, one behind the franchise record 100 wins in 2021.

With the Phillies desperate for a win to try and secure a National League wild-card berth that not too long ago seemed a certainty, the Rays further dampened the mood of the crowd by grabbing a 3-0 lead in the first.

By the end of the night, Junior Caminero had his 42nd homer — second most in the AL — and 100th and 101st RBIs. Yandy Diaz, who went through an icy stretch, had his third multi-hit game in the last four. Victor Mesa Jr. had his first career four-hit game. Richie Palacios had a career-high four RBIs to push his total to 57, fourth most on the team.

And rookie reliever Brody Hopkins, making a pitch for a postseason roster spot, rebounded from a rough Thursday outing to fare better.

The Rays wanted to use the final weekend to get as tuned up as they can for their postseason before heading into the five-day break they earned by winning the American League East division title and a first-round bye.

As they do workouts and play scrimmage games at the Trop this week, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will battle in a best-of-three wild-card Series for the right to face them.

Plus, the Rays have some individual achievements in play, including Caminero’s plan to become the first player to start all 162 games of a season at third base since ex-Ray Vinny Castilla in 1998 for Colorado.

The game is of immense importance to the Phillies, who at the least will need to win, and, pending late Saturday results, also may need a Arizona Diamondbacks loss to make the six-team NL field.

The forecast for Sunday is ominous, with rain expected constantly from late Saturday night until close to the 3:05 p.m. ET scheduled start time and more intermittently throughout the late afternoon and evening.

Note

Outfielder Chandler Simpson said Saturday afternoon his right foot was still “a little sore” from being hit by a foul ball on Friday. He indicated he likely wouldn’t play in the final two regular season games as a precaution but said he is fully confident he’ll be good to go for Oct. 3 playoffs opener.

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