Junior Caminero’s grand slam powers Rays to 7-2 win over Cardinals
[August 25, 2025]
By KRISTIE ACKERT
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Junior Caminero hit his second
career grand slam to power the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-2 victory over the
St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday after a 4-hour, 25-minute rain delay that
emptied most of the announced crowd of 8,809 at George M. Steinbrenner
Field.
The Rays (63-67) took two of three games in the series and are 5-5 over
their last 10. The Cardinals (64-67) finished a 3-3 trip to Miami and
Tampa. |
Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero hits a grand slam during the fifth
inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Aug.
24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) |
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Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore, once a
Rays prospect, walked Josh Lowe and Carson Williams to open the
fifth inning. After getting one out, Liberatore issued another
walk to Chandler Simpson that loaded the bases and ended his
outing.
Matt Svanson entered and gave up Caminero’s 381-foot slam to
right field on his first pitch.
The homer was Caminero’s 37th of the year, surpassing Alex
Rodriguez for the most in one season by an American League
player 21 or younger. Simpson added a two-run triple in the
sixth to extend the lead to 7-0 and continue his strong rookie
campaign.
Christopher Morel hit his 10th homer in the fourth to get the
Rays going.
Liberatore (6-11) was charged with four runs on three hits and
three walks in 4 2/3 innings. Ryan Pepiot (9-10) earned the win
for Tampa Bay, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing
one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
Key moment
During the rain delay, the Cardinals scratched shortstop Masyn
Winn because of left knee pain that has been bothering him for
weeks.
Key stat
The Rays improved to 50-33 when Caminero gets a hit. They are
9-32 when he goes hitless.
Up next
The Cardinals return home to face Pittsburgh, with Michael
McGreevy (5-2, 4.42 ERA) on the mound for St. Louis. The Rays
head to Cleveland, with Ian Seymour (1-0, 3.86) scheduled to
make his first major league start.
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