TAMPA — The Rays got a sense of what the summer weather will be like in Tuesday’s return to Steinbrenner Field, as they dodged rain drops and sat through a short delay while beating the Rangers 5-1.
Rookie outfielder Kameron Misner delivered the first run with an opposite-field home run in the second inning. The Rays loaded the bases in the sixth and took advantage of some Rangers sloppiness to build the lead to 4-0. Red-hot Junior Caminero homered in the eighth, his fifth in his last six games and 14th of the season.
But the best performance of the night came from Rays starter Drew Rasmussen, who worked five dominant innings, allowing one infield hit while striking out eight and walking none.
Rasmussen extended his scoreless innings streak to 23 over his last four starts, the longest current stretch in the majors and 1 ⅔ short of Alex Cobb’s team record.
The victory was the 10th for the Rays (31-29) in their last 13 games and 15th in 23. They have won eight of their past nine at home.
Misner’s home run took a looping flight into the leftfield corner. Rangers leftfielder Wyatt Langford clearly didn’t see it, stopping well short of the fence and throwing up his hands.
FanDuel Sports Network TV cameras didn’t have a clear shot, though analyst Brian Anderson said he saw the ball just clear the fence inside the foul pole.
Umpires requested a replay review and must have had an additional angle, as the call was confirmed. MLB Statcast measured the homer at 328 feet, with an exit velocity of just 88.9 mph.
After playing through some rain and a 17-minute delay in the third inning, the Rays widened their lead in the sixth. They chased Tyler Mahle after Yandy Diaz drew a walk, Jonathan Aranda singled and Junior Caminero walked to load the bases.
The Rays forced the action from there, getting three runs on one hit.
Reliever Jacob Latz’s first pitch sailed high of home plate, allowing Diaz to score. Jake Mangum hit a slow grounder toward first that the Rangers failed to make a play on, getting Aranda home and Caminero to third. Then as Misner struck out, Mangum broke for second. Catcher Kyle Higashioka made an errant throw, and Caminero raced home to make it 4-0.
The Rangers got one run in the seventh off Garrett Cleavinger before Caminero homered in the eighth to restore the Rays’ four-run lead.
Wednesday: vs. Rangers
7:35, Steinbrenner Field
Pitchers: Rays — RH Shane Baz (4-3, 4.92); Rangers, RH Kumar Rocker (1-3, 8.10)
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 620-AM, 106.7-FM (Spanish)
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Info: raysbaseball.com
On deck
Thursday: vs. Rangers, 7:35. Rays, RH Ryan Pepiot (3-5, 3.21); Rangers, RH Jack Leiter (4-2, 3.66)
Friday: vs. Marlins, 1:10. Rays, RH Zack Littell (5-5, 3.86); Marlins, RH Edward Cabrera (2-1, 4.14)
Saturday: vs. Marlins, 4:10. RH Taj Bradley (4-5, 3.95); Marlins, LH Ryan Weathers (1-1, 2.49)
Sunday: vs. Marlins, 12:10. Rays, RH Drew Rasmussen (5-4, 2.14); RH Max Meyer (3-5, 4.73)