The Tampa Bay Rays continued their scorching run through the season on Sunday afternoon, powering past the Miami Marlins 6-3 to secure their 18th win in the last 22 games and clinch a series victory.
The Rays wasted no time striking first. Rising slugger Junior Caminero launched his 12th home run of the season in the opening inning, sending a solo shot to left field that immediately put Tampa Bay in front.
The Marlins responded with timely hitting in the third inning. Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez each delivered RBI singles, briefly flipping momentum and giving Miami a 2-1 edge.
The turning point came in the fourth when Tampa Bay loaded the bases against Marlins starter Eury Pérez. After a walk to Yandy Díaz, a double by Jonny DeLuca, and a walk to Cedric Mullins, the pressure mounted.
Taylor Walls delivered the knockout blow in the inning with a bases-clearing triple, turning a deficit into a 4-2 lead. From there, Tampa Bay never looked back.
Yandy Díaz added insurance in the fifth with a solo home run, extending the lead and keeping the Rays firmly in control. In the sixth, Caminero added to his big day by drawing a bases-loaded walk that scored Mullins, stretching the lead to 6-2.
Miami managed a late push in the eighth when Kyle Stowers singled home a run, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.
For Tampa Bay, starter Drew Rasmussen delivered a steady outing, allowing two runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings to earn his fourth win of the season. The bullpen closed it out, with Bryan Baker securing his 12th save.
On the Marlins’ side, Pérez was charged with five runs on five hits across five innings, striking out five but unable to contain Tampa Bay’s fourth-inning surge.
With the win, the Rays took two of three in the series and continue building momentum as one of the hottest teams in baseball.
The Marlins will return home to open a four-game set against the Atlanta Braves on Monday, with Max Meyer slated to take the mound.
The Rays head home to begin a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, where Shane McClanahan is expected to start as Tampa Bay looks to extend its dominant stretch.
