Rays’ Junior Caminero ‘doing special things,’ hitting lots of homers

TAMPA — Junior Caminero put the team first, saying the biggest takeaway from Sunday was that the Rays lost to the Tigers.

But he provided yet another bright spot in his impressive first full big season, going deep for the second straight game, giving him 19 homers and 50 RBIs before the halfway point of the season.

“I feel good,” said Caminero via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “I’ve been working very hard and I feel good at home plate. I was able to hit a home run (Saturday) and (Sunday), but (Sunday) we weren’t able to get the victory.”

At the start of spring training, Caminero said he’d set a goal for home runs, and indicated that number was 30. Talking with reporters at the start of the season, he implied that he had raised the number, but wouldn’t share.

At his current pace, he’d hit 39 and drive in 108 runs, which would be pretty good.

With 19 home runs, Junior Caminero is tied for third in the American League and 10th in the majors. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]

“I felt really confident when we were in spring training, that’s why I said what I said,” Caminero said. “But it’s a matter of continuing working on the adjustments that we have to make. We are working as a team. The team is playing good, and good things are going to continue to happen.”

With 19, he’s tied for third in the American League and 10th in the majors. He has the fifth-most homers of any Ray prior to July 1, with a chance to be the sixth to have 20 by the All-Star break.

During which the Rays are hoping he is working, pushing the 21-year-old third baseman’s candidacy to be named to the AL team for the July 14 game.

“A special player doing special things right now,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s seeing the ball well, driving it. He’s putting together a really impressive first half for any player, regardless of his age.”

Gervase still living the dreamRays reliever Paul Gervase barely had time to think about his MLB debut Saturday, arriving at Steinbrenner Field during the game. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

Paul Gervase was happy to go to sleep Saturday night given the all-nighter he pulled Friday after getting word around 11:30 p.m. that he was being called up from Triple A, then getting from an Omaha, Nebraska, hotel to Steinbrenner Field and making his debut in the sixth inning.

Even better was waking up Sunday morning and realizing it was all real, most importantly those two scoreless innings he threw in the Rays’ 8-3 win.

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“Yeah, it was cool. It was really a lot of fun,” Gervase said. “It was good to sleep, though.”

Gervase, 25, got to keep his No. 54 jersey (that had an MLB debut patch attached) and the balls from his first pitch and first strikeout.

He was also in the process Sunday morning of sorting through the 400-plus messages he got via phone, text and social media.

“I’m still trying to get back to everybody,” Gervase said.

That included hearing from the coaches at all four colleges where he played, including a call from LSU’s Jay Johnson.

“They played in the national championship (final round Saturday), he still called me and congratulated me. That was really cool,” Gervase said. “And then just a bunch of my teammates from college and pro ball from the past.”

Gervase, a 6-foot-10 right-hander, also said he answered “a million questions” during a 45-minute talk with his younger brother, Will, a 6-foot-9 lefty pitcher at the Class-A level with the Angels.

Gervase has some, too. After Sunday’s game, he was asking teammates about the new team-issued suitcase at his locker for the trip to Kansas City.

Going streakingRays designated hitter Yandy Diaz (2) gets a single against the Tigers in the fifth inning Sunday. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]

Curtis Mead got hit by a pitch in the ninth inning Sunday, marking his ninth straight plate appearance reaching base, one shy of the team record shared by Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena. … Diaz extended his hitting streak to 13 games (the longest active such run in the majors), multi-hit games to five, and his on-base streak to 17. … Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to 11 games, Jake Mangum to 10. … Taylor Walls extended his on-base streak to 13 games, and his 15 RBIs since June 5 are third most in the majors.

Miscellany

The Rays announced an attendance of 10,046, their 42nd sellout in 50 home games at Steinbrenner Field. … Though he was pulled after five innings, Zack Littell said “that was probably the best execution of the season. Really got going, liked all my shapes. Was really good getting ahead of guys, doing the job, executing with two strikes, so definitely happy with that one.” … With an 18-minute rain delay included, the ninth inning lasted 54 minutes. … Infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios has had some right knee soreness during his rehab assignment at Triple A, and the Rays could consider pulling off for more recovery time. … Infielder Ha-Seong Kim is working toward a return from right shoulder surgery, playing his third game for Durham (after a break to deal with hamstring tightness) on Sunday. … Shortstop Wander Franco’s trial resumes Monday in the Dominican Republic with closing arguments, and at least the potential for a verdict.

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