Junior Caminero homers to lead Rays to first postseason berth of 2026
12 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 12, 2026, 3:06 PM
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.
- 3:06 PMYahoo Sports — Rays news: What Junior Caminero said after walking off Astros with 2-run bomb
- 2:04 PMYahoo Sports — Junior Caminero’s 40th homer sends Rays back to playoffs in perfect fashion
- 7:20 AMYahoo Sports — Rays Roundtable: AL East Race, October Injuries and a Suddenly Dangerous Lineup
- 7:07 AMYahoo Sports — Junior Caminero Walks Rays Into Postseason With Dramatic 40th Home Run
- 4:12 AMYahoo Sports — Rays news: Junior Caminero walks off the Astros with a two-run bomb
- 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
"Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero delivered a two-run walk-off homer Friday night, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 and clinching the Rays’ first postseason berth since 2023 . His 40th homer ended the series opener at Tropicana Field and made Tampa Bay the first MLB team to secure a 2026 playoff spot. Afterward, theScore’s Bryan Mcwilliam shared […] The post Rays news: What Junior Caminero said after walking off Astros with 2-run bomb appeared first on ClutchPoints.
"The Tampa Bay Rays may be sitting pretty atop the AL East standings, but with the regular season winding down, every win still matters for them in their goal of sealing the division title. The New York Yankees are still hot on their tails , and if they’re not careful, the Rays might end up falling to the Wild Card round. This is what makes the […] The post Rays news: Junior Caminero walks off the Astros with a two-run bomb appeared first on ClutchPoints.
"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.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 3:06 PMRays news: What Junior Caminero said after walking off Astros with 2-run bomb
Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero delivered a two-run walk-off homer Friday night, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 and clinching the Rays’ first postseason berth since 2023 . His 40th homer ended the series opener at Tropicana Field and made Tampa Bay the first MLB team to secure a 2026 playoff spot. Afterward, theScore’s Bryan Mcwilliam shared […] The post Rays news: What Junior Caminero said after walking off Astros with 2-run bomb appeared first on ClutchPoints.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 2:04 PMJunior Caminero’s 40th homer sends Rays back to playoffs in perfect fashion
Junior Caminero’s 417-foot walk-off homer gave Tampa Bay the first clinched playoff berth of the 2026 MLB season.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 7:20 AMRays Roundtable: AL East Race, October Injuries and a Suddenly Dangerous Lineup
The Tampa Bay Rays have clinched an MLB playoff berth, but the AL East race with the New York Yankees isn't over. Rays Roundtable examines Tampa Bay's injuries, Shane McClanahan, the improved offense and whether the Rays can hold off Aaron Judge and the Yankees.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 7:07 AMJunior Caminero Walks Rays Into Postseason With Dramatic 40th Home Run
The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their first MLB playoff berth since 2023 with a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros. Junior Caminero hit a walk-off two-run homer for his AL-leading 40th home run, while Drew Rasmussen delivered seven strong innings.
- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 4:12 AMRays news: Junior Caminero walks off the Astros with a two-run bomb
The Tampa Bay Rays may be sitting pretty atop the AL East standings, but with the regular season winding down, every win still matters for them in their goal of sealing the division title. The New York Yankees are still hot on their tails , and if they’re not careful, the Rays might end up falling to the Wild Card round. This is what makes the […] The post Rays news: Junior Caminero walks off the Astros with a two-run bomb appeared first on ClutchPoints.
- 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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