Caminero's Historic Homer Streak
Junior Caminero Extends Homer Streak to Five Games, Leads Rays to Victory Over Royals
Junior Caminero homered for the fifth straight game Tuesday night, powering the Tampa Bay Rays to a 10-4 win over the Kansas City Royals in the series opener. The 22-year-old third baseman launched a three-run shot in the second inning — his 23rd homer of the season — capping a stretch of eight home runs in his last seven games. AP News reported the blast ignited a six-run second inning that put the game out of reach early.
The win was not just about Caminero. Tampa Bay now boasts a 19-7 record against left-handed starters this season, the best mark in the league Fox Sports. Earlier Tuesday morning, Caminero had announced he would compete in the 2026 All-Star Home Run Derby. His stated goal: "Champion."
A Six-Run Second Inning Blows the Game Open
Caminero's three-run homer came off Royals lefty Noah Cameron in the second inning. On the very next pitch, outfielder Ryan Vilade followed with a back-to-back solo shot, according to AP News. The Rays piled on six runs in the inning, turning a close game into a rout before Kansas City could respond.
Cameron could not recover. He took the loss, falling to 4-6, after giving up six runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings The Washington Post. It was part of a troubling run: Cameron has now allowed 21 earned runs over his last four starts. For Tampa Bay, Griffin Jax earned the win, going six innings with five strikeouts and zero walks.
Caminero's Streak Ties All-Time Power Marks
Seven home runs in six games is rare at any age. For a 22-year-old, it is historic. Analysts at MLB.com noted that Caminero's seven-homer week ties him with Bryce Harper (2015) and Willie Horton (1965) for the most home runs by a hitter aged 22 or younger in a six-game span since 1900.
His hottest moment came June 28, when he hit a 463-foot blast at 113.5 mph exit velocity against the Arizona Diamondbacks — the longest home run of his career, per the Tampa Bay Times. That shot made him the youngest Ray ever to homer in four straight games. Manager Kevin Cash called him a "special player doing special things."
Home Run Derby Announcement Adds to the Moment
Before the first pitch Tuesday, Caminero officially signed up for the 2026 All-Star Home Run Derby in Philadelphia on July 13, per KNBR. He finished second in the 2025 Derby to Seattle's Cal Raleigh. This year's event carries a new wrinkle: it will be the first Derby broadcast on Netflix, and the format drops the pitch clock in favor of a 20-swing limit per round.
Caminero is also the reigning AL Player of the Week. MLB gave him the award June 29 after he hit seven home runs and drove in 15 runs over six games. The Derby gives him a national stage to build on that momentum heading into the All-Star break.
Royals Get Individual Bright Spots in a Losing Effort
Kansas City did not go quietly. Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice on the night — the seventh multi-homer game of his career, according to AP News. Catcher Carter Jensen also went deep in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to 20 consecutive games, the longest active streak in MLB.
But individual highlights could not mask the team's bigger problems. Tampa Bay has now won six straight games and sits atop the AL East, partly because of a recent Yankees slump StatMuse. The Rays' dominance against left-handed pitching — 19-7 this season — continues to be one of the most lopsided splits in baseball.
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