Junior Caminero homers to lead Rays to first postseason berth of 2026
7 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 12, 2026, 2:48 AM
Last updated Sep 12, 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays secured a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday at Tropicana Field, clinching the first postseason berth in Major League Baseball this season. Junior Caminero hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to provide the deciding margin. The win moved the Rays' record to 88-59, maintaining their lead in the American League East. Starter Drew Rasmussen contributed seven innings of one-run pitching, while Bryan Baker earned the win in relief. This marks the team's first trip to the playoffs since 2023. The club continues its series against the Astros before a final stretch of games against the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies.
- •Junior Caminero hit his 40th home run of the season to end the game.
- •The Rays defeated the Houston Astros 3-1 at Tropicana Field on Friday.
- •Tampa Bay holds an 88-59 record and a three-game lead in the AL East.
- •This is the team's first playoff appearance since 2023.
- •The victory marks the earliest postseason clinch for the franchise in recent history.
- 3:18 AMESPN — Rays 1st into playoffs after Caminero's walk-off HR
- 2:35 AMYahoo Sports — Junior Caminero’s walk-off homer sends Rays to playoff-clinching 3-1 win over Astros
- 1:53 AMYahoo Sports — Junior Caminero launches Rays into postseason with 2-run homer for walk-off win over Astros
- 1:53 AMYahoo Sports — Junior Caminero launches Rays into postseason with 3-run homer for walk-off win over Astros
- 1:46 AMYahoo Sports — Rays become first team to clinch playoff spot this season on Caminero's walk-off homer
- 1:44 AMYahoo Sports — Tampa Bay Rays first to clinch MLB playoff berth on Junior Caminero walk-off homer
"Junior Caminero sent the Tampa Bay Rays to the playoffs. The Rays became the first major league team to secure a postseason spot, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 Friday night on Caminero's game-ending, two-run homer — his 40th of the season. Tampa Bay (88-59) has held the American League's best record for 115 days this season.
"The Rays became the first major league team to secure a postseason spot, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 Friday night on Junior Caminero's game-ending, two-run homer.
"Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League and became the first team in MLB to clinch a playoff spot this season.
Sources
External links- ESPNSep 12, 2026, 3:18 AMRays 1st into playoffs after Caminero's walk-off HR
The Rays became the first major league team to secure a postseason spot, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 Friday night on Junior Caminero's game-ending, two-run homer.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 2:35 AMJunior Caminero’s walk-off homer sends Rays to playoff-clinching 3-1 win over Astros
The AL-best Rays became the first team in the majors to secure a playoff spot.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 1:53 AMJunior Caminero launches Rays into postseason with 2-run homer for walk-off win over Astros
Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League and became the first team in MLB to clinch a playoff spot this season.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 1:53 AMJunior Caminero launches Rays into postseason with 3-run homer for walk-off win over Astros
Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League and became the first team in MLB to clinch a playoff spot this season.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 1:46 AMRays become first team to clinch playoff spot this season on Caminero's walk-off homer
Junior Caminero sent the Tampa Bay Rays to the playoffs. The Rays became the first major league team to secure a postseason spot, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 Friday night on Caminero's game-ending, two-run homer — his 40th of the season. Tampa Bay (88-59) has held the American League's best record for 115 days this season.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 1:44 AMTampa Bay Rays first to clinch MLB playoff berth on Junior Caminero walk-off homer
The Tampa Bay Rays are the first team to lock up a spot in the 2026 MLB playoffs. They did it in dramatic fashion.
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