The Tampa Bay Rays (33-29) defeated the Texas Rangers (29-34) 4-3 on Thursday night to complete a sweep of the three-game series against Texas. It was the fifth walk-off win of the season and their third series sweep of the year - with the win the Rays have now won 12 of their first 15 games. The Rays are also four games above .500 for the first time since the end of 2023.
Junior Caminero homered in the second to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. Texas got single runs in the third, fifth and seventh to build a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth Junior Caminero drove in his second run of the game to cut the lead to 3-2. Then Taylor Walls hit an unusual ground ball infield hit that both Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero were able to score on, lifting the Rays to an improbable 4-3 win.
Ryan Pepiot allowed just two earned runs in his three innings of work, striking out eight and walking two. Cole Sulser (2-1, 3.09) got the win out of the bullpen after working a scoreless ninth inning.
The Rays now host the Miami Marlins for a three-game series beginning on Friday afternoon. Zack Littell (5-5, 3.86) is scheduled to start the series for Tampa Bay. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 1:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at high noon on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES