18 days ago
Yandy Díaz knows how close they are. And he's not going to let the ALCS run to a Game 7.
"It's a great opportunity," Díaz said in Spanish on Sunday night after the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians, via the Tampa Bay Times' Mark Topkin. "All of us are thinking of it.
"But it all ends tomorrow. We're going to win tomorrow."
The Rays are just a single win away from reaching the World Series, thanks to Sunday's convincing 3-1 win over the Guardians at Progressive Field. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first three innings in Game 5 on Sunday afternoon, and then held on the rest of the way to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Díaz opened the contest up with a double, and was hit in later that inning after Parker Messick walked Jonny DeLuca. Díaz ended up with three hits in the win.
#game
"It's a great opportunity," Díaz said in Spanish on Sunday night after the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians, via the Tampa Bay Times' Mark Topkin. "All of us are thinking of it.
"But it all ends tomorrow. We're going to win tomorrow."
The Rays are just a single win away from reaching the World Series, thanks to Sunday's convincing 3-1 win over the Guardians at Progressive Field. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first three innings in Game 5 on Sunday afternoon, and then held on the rest of the way to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Díaz opened the contest up with a double, and was hit in later that inning after Parker Messick walked Jonny DeLuca. Díaz ended up with three hits in the win.
#game
2 months ago
Rays news: What Junior Caminero said after walking off Astros with 2-run bomb appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero delivered a two-run walk-off homer Friday night, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 and clinching the Rays' first postseason berth since 2023. His 40th homer ended the series opener at Tropicana Field and made Tampa Bay the first MLB team to secure a 2026 playoff spot. Afterward, theScore's Bryan Mcwilliam shared Caminero's postgame message as the All-Star third baseman made clear reaching October wasn't his final goal.
"We're going to enjoy this, we're going to have a lot of fun, we're going to enjoy the moment, but the job is not finished. We're going to win the division," Caminero said before yelling, "Tampa, this is for you."
Caminero delivered his first career MLB walk-off hit with one out in the ninth and the score tied 1-1. Jonathan Aranda doubled off the right-field wall before Jonny DeLuca replaced him as a pinch-runner. Caminero then attacked Bryan Abreu's first pitch, sending a 96.6 mph four-seam fastball 417 feet to left-center at 107.2 mph.
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#caminero #first #going #junior
Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero delivered a two-run walk-off homer Friday night, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 and clinching the Rays' first postseason berth since 2023. His 40th homer ended the series opener at Tropicana Field and made Tampa Bay the first MLB team to secure a 2026 playoff spot. Afterward, theScore's Bryan Mcwilliam shared Caminero's postgame message as the All-Star third baseman made clear reaching October wasn't his final goal.
"We're going to enjoy this, we're going to have a lot of fun, we're going to enjoy the moment, but the job is not finished. We're going to win the division," Caminero said before yelling, "Tampa, this is for you."
Caminero delivered his first career MLB walk-off hit with one out in the ninth and the score tied 1-1. Jonathan Aranda doubled off the right-field wall before Jonny DeLuca replaced him as a pinch-runner. Caminero then attacked Bryan Abreu's first pitch, sending a 96.6 mph four-seam fastball 417 feet to left-center at 107.2 mph.
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#caminero #first #going #junior
2 months ago
Teofimo Lopez officially joined the exclusive club of three-division boxing world champions on Saturday night in Las Vegas, though his WBA ******* le win over Rolando "Rolly" Romero didn't come without its share of critics and controversy.
Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs) appeared to soundly outbox a sleepy Romero (17-3, 13 KOs) inside the T-Mobile Arena to capture the WBA welterweight ******* le in a fight that never really got out of first gear. The tepid nature of the bout perhaps shouldn't have come as a surprise, considering the well-documented friendship the two fighters have shared for more than a decade, yet it was a baffling 114-114 scorecard from judge Glenn Feldman that drew just as much — if not more — condemnation as Lopez and Romero's performances Saturday.
In a fight that many observers viewed as a rout, which saw Lopez out-punch Romero 124-73 in total punches and 62-49 in power punches, Feldman improbably scored the bout a draw — meaning if judges Max DeLuca (115-113 Lopez) and Tim Cheatham (116-112 Lopez) had agreed, Romero would've controversially left Las Vegas with the WBA world ******* le still wrapped around his waist.
Fortunately, yet another boxing judging crisis was averted this time. But Lopez's win still invited a healthy mix of aspersions and praise from his fellow fighters, ranging from former opponent George Kambosos Jr. panning the bout as a "glorified sparring session," to recent foe Shakur Stevenson giving both Lopez and Romero their due credit.
Check out more reaction to Lopez vs. Romero below.
#bout #World
Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs) appeared to soundly outbox a sleepy Romero (17-3, 13 KOs) inside the T-Mobile Arena to capture the WBA welterweight ******* le in a fight that never really got out of first gear. The tepid nature of the bout perhaps shouldn't have come as a surprise, considering the well-documented friendship the two fighters have shared for more than a decade, yet it was a baffling 114-114 scorecard from judge Glenn Feldman that drew just as much — if not more — condemnation as Lopez and Romero's performances Saturday.
In a fight that many observers viewed as a rout, which saw Lopez out-punch Romero 124-73 in total punches and 62-49 in power punches, Feldman improbably scored the bout a draw — meaning if judges Max DeLuca (115-113 Lopez) and Tim Cheatham (116-112 Lopez) had agreed, Romero would've controversially left Las Vegas with the WBA world ******* le still wrapped around his waist.
Fortunately, yet another boxing judging crisis was averted this time. But Lopez's win still invited a healthy mix of aspersions and praise from his fellow fighters, ranging from former opponent George Kambosos Jr. panning the bout as a "glorified sparring session," to recent foe Shakur Stevenson giving both Lopez and Romero their due credit.
Check out more reaction to Lopez vs. Romero below.
#bout #World
3 months ago
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch-hitter Jonny DeLuca put the Rays in front with a two-run single in the seventh inning, and AL-best Tampa Bay rallied for a 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night to avoid a four-game sweep.
Yandy Díaz, Ryan Vilade and Jorge Mateo homered for Tampa Bay. Mateo's two-run shot with two out in the fourth was his first for the Rays and gave them a 4-3 lead.
Coby Mayo hit a 468-foot homer, and Pete Alonso and Christian Encarnacion-Strand also went deep for Baltimore (61-64), which moved into the AL's third wild-card spot by taking the first three games against its division rival at Tropicana Field.
Jonathan Aranda's RBI single against Yennier Cano (2-3) got the Rays within 6-5 in the seventh. After Junior Caminero hit an infield single to load the bases, Josh Walker came in and gave up DeLuca's go-ahead single to center, the last of four lead changes in the game.
All-Star Bryan Baker got the final five outs for his majors-leading 35th save. Left-hander Cam Booser (1-0) struck out the side in the seventh and earned his first win in a Rays.
#single #four #game #lead
Yandy Díaz, Ryan Vilade and Jorge Mateo homered for Tampa Bay. Mateo's two-run shot with two out in the fourth was his first for the Rays and gave them a 4-3 lead.
Coby Mayo hit a 468-foot homer, and Pete Alonso and Christian Encarnacion-Strand also went deep for Baltimore (61-64), which moved into the AL's third wild-card spot by taking the first three games against its division rival at Tropicana Field.
Jonathan Aranda's RBI single against Yennier Cano (2-3) got the Rays within 6-5 in the seventh. After Junior Caminero hit an infield single to load the bases, Josh Walker came in and gave up DeLuca's go-ahead single to center, the last of four lead changes in the game.
All-Star Bryan Baker got the final five outs for his majors-leading 35th save. Left-hander Cam Booser (1-0) struck out the side in the seventh and earned his first win in a Rays.
#single #four #game #lead
3 months ago
A king can get knocked around. It can lose three straight games at home. It can even trail by two runs in the seventh inning with a four-game sweep creeping closer.
But, as D'Angelo Barksdale once explained on The Wire, "The king stay the king, aight."
Jonny DeLuca helped the Rays remain atop the American League East, grounding a pinch-hit, two-run single into left field to complete a 7-6 comeback victory over the Orioles.
Getting there required Tampa Bay to overcome three separate deficits and another night in which Baltimore's lineup kept finding the seats.
Shane McClanahan made his first start as he returned from the injured list with mid-back tightness and opened with a clean first inning. Yandy Díaz walked in the bottom half and advanced to second on Jonathan Aranda's fly ball, but Gunnar Henderson's glove made the next two outs to leave him there.
#d 'angelo #wire
But, as D'Angelo Barksdale once explained on The Wire, "The king stay the king, aight."
Jonny DeLuca helped the Rays remain atop the American League East, grounding a pinch-hit, two-run single into left field to complete a 7-6 comeback victory over the Orioles.
Getting there required Tampa Bay to overcome three separate deficits and another night in which Baltimore's lineup kept finding the seats.
Shane McClanahan made his first start as he returned from the injured list with mid-back tightness and opened with a clean first inning. Yandy Díaz walked in the bottom half and advanced to second on Jonathan Aranda's fly ball, but Gunnar Henderson's glove made the next two outs to leave him there.
#d 'angelo #wire
3 months ago
This story was originally published on QSR. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily QSR AM Jolt.
Jeff's Bagel Run, the fast-growing bagel brand known for making its bagels from scratch in every shop throughout the day, has awarded a 10-unit franchise agreement covering Eastern and South Central Pennsylvania.
The agreement marks Jeff's Bagel Run's entry into Pennsylvania and establishes a development corridor extending from the Harrisburg area east through Reading and the Lehigh Valley to suburban Philadelphia. Site selection is now underway, with the franchise group actively evaluating real estate opportunities and leadership resources across the territory.
"Pennsylvania knows its bagels, so we know we'll have to earn our place here," said Jeff Perera, co-founder of Jeff's Bagel Run. "Plenty of bagel brands are growing. We may be the only one doing it the hard way—starting with flour and mixing, boiling and baking every bagel in every shop throughout the day. There are certainly easier ways to scale, but we haven't found one that makes a better bagel. Now we're looking for multiple sites and neighborhoods to bring that experience to Pennsylvania."
The expansion will be led by experienced multi-unit franchisees Jay and Amy DeLuca, along with operating partners Eric Clark and Nadia Hankin who reside in Harrisburg. The group brings extensive experience in site selection, new-store development, building strong teams, marketing and community involvement.
#bagel #pennsylvania #site
Jeff's Bagel Run, the fast-growing bagel brand known for making its bagels from scratch in every shop throughout the day, has awarded a 10-unit franchise agreement covering Eastern and South Central Pennsylvania.
The agreement marks Jeff's Bagel Run's entry into Pennsylvania and establishes a development corridor extending from the Harrisburg area east through Reading and the Lehigh Valley to suburban Philadelphia. Site selection is now underway, with the franchise group actively evaluating real estate opportunities and leadership resources across the territory.
"Pennsylvania knows its bagels, so we know we'll have to earn our place here," said Jeff Perera, co-founder of Jeff's Bagel Run. "Plenty of bagel brands are growing. We may be the only one doing it the hard way—starting with flour and mixing, boiling and baking every bagel in every shop throughout the day. There are certainly easier ways to scale, but we haven't found one that makes a better bagel. Now we're looking for multiple sites and neighborhoods to bring that experience to Pennsylvania."
The expansion will be led by experienced multi-unit franchisees Jay and Amy DeLuca, along with operating partners Eric Clark and Nadia Hankin who reside in Harrisburg. The group brings extensive experience in site selection, new-store development, building strong teams, marketing and community involvement.
#bagel #pennsylvania #site
3 months ago
It is tough to sweep a four-game series, unless you are the impossibly hot Boston Red Sox. Perhaps Shane Bieber took it upon himself to make Kyle Snyder, Kevin Cash, and the front office beliebers and effort to acquire him before the August 3rd deadline. Bieber had his second consecutive fantastic outing since the break with seven innings of one-run baseball allowing just three baserunners before handing it over to the A-pen to finish the game.
This was the type of game Toronto envisioned this winter, but has rarely been able to put together throguhout this frustrating season. The three runs scored today was the most runs the team has scored in their last six games, but it was the pitching that was story of the game and why the Rays offense was mostly lifeless today.
Bieber himself had just 8 swings and misses on 39 pitches, but he did a fantastic job working an extremely liberal strike zone to his advantage for seven innings:
The zone was questionable all day, but it was not until the 7th inning that any Rays batter challenged a pitch. Jonny DeLuca challenged a first pitch cutter that was well off the plate and had it overturned:
There were not many pitches more aggregiously wrong than this one, but Bieber certainly enjoyed a fair number of favorable strike calls in this contest yet the Rays were stubborn in using their challenges until DeLuca apparently had enough in the 7th inning:
#game #deluca #three #runs
This was the type of game Toronto envisioned this winter, but has rarely been able to put together throguhout this frustrating season. The three runs scored today was the most runs the team has scored in their last six games, but it was the pitching that was story of the game and why the Rays offense was mostly lifeless today.
Bieber himself had just 8 swings and misses on 39 pitches, but he did a fantastic job working an extremely liberal strike zone to his advantage for seven innings:
The zone was questionable all day, but it was not until the 7th inning that any Rays batter challenged a pitch. Jonny DeLuca challenged a first pitch cutter that was well off the plate and had it overturned:
There were not many pitches more aggregiously wrong than this one, but Bieber certainly enjoyed a fair number of favorable strike calls in this contest yet the Rays were stubborn in using their challenges until DeLuca apparently had enough in the 7th inning:
#game #deluca #three #runs
4 months ago
The Philadelphia Waterdogs will be without the backbone of their defense for at least the next three games.
Starting goalie Matt DeLuca was placed on injured reserve with a right adductor strain, forcing the Waterdogs to hand the crease to undrafted rookie Sean Byrne as they enter one of the most important stretches of their season.
While head coach Bill Tierney expects DeLuca to return this season, the timing of the injury creates uncertainty for a team still fighting for playoff positioning.
#waterdogs
Starting goalie Matt DeLuca was placed on injured reserve with a right adductor strain, forcing the Waterdogs to hand the crease to undrafted rookie Sean Byrne as they enter one of the most important stretches of their season.
While head coach Bill Tierney expects DeLuca to return this season, the timing of the injury creates uncertainty for a team still fighting for playoff positioning.
#waterdogs
4 months ago
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Griffin Jax pitched five strong innings, Yandy Díaz tied Tampa Bay's franchise record for career RBIs and the Rays defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Jax (3-5) struck out seven while allowing two unearned runs and five hits. It was his fourth start in a row with at least five innings pitched and less than two earned runs allowed. Bryan Baker gave up a run in the ninth, but closed it out for his 20th save.
Díaz hammered a line drive to left field in the fourth inning to tie B.J. Upton's franchise mark of 447 RBIs and give Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead. Jonny DeLuca followed with an RBI double.
Nick Fortes and Díaz opened the scoring in the third when they both scored after Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone fielded Ryan Vilade's grounder and stepped on the bag for the out — but then his throw home went wide of catcher Salvador Perez. Jonathan Aranda added a one-run single to put the Rays up 3-0.
Noah Cameron (4-5) gave up all five runs on eight hits in five innings for the Royals.
Jax (3-5) struck out seven while allowing two unearned runs and five hits. It was his fourth start in a row with at least five innings pitched and less than two earned runs allowed. Bryan Baker gave up a run in the ninth, but closed it out for his 20th save.
Díaz hammered a line drive to left field in the fourth inning to tie B.J. Upton's franchise mark of 447 RBIs and give Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead. Jonny DeLuca followed with an RBI double.
Nick Fortes and Díaz opened the scoring in the third when they both scored after Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone fielded Ryan Vilade's grounder and stepped on the bag for the out — but then his throw home went wide of catcher Salvador Perez. Jonathan Aranda added a one-run single to put the Rays up 3-0.
Noah Cameron (4-5) gave up all five runs on eight hits in five innings for the Royals.
5 months ago
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - Jonny DeLuca of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Tropicana Field on June 21, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Home sweet dome. Tropicana Field has been just that for the Tampa Bay Rays so far in 2026. At 26-10 (.722), the club has MLB’s best home record and equaled its second-best 36-game mark inside the friendly confines.
“The fan base has really rallied behind us the entire season,” said first baseman Jonathan Aranda, following Friday night’s 5-2 win over the visiting Nationals. “Thankfully, we have been playing really well. You just want to do your part and put on a good show for the fans.”
The Rays have been doing their part while putting on a good show. After Saturday’s 4-3 loss, they rebounded to win Sunday afternoon’s game by the same score and take the three-game series. Rays’ pitchers allowed five homers during the series, though each was of the solo variety. The pitching did not walk a batter in the first two games and yielded only nine runs overall against MLB’s highest-scoring team.
“We pitched very well,” said manager Kevin Cash, whose club heads into a new week in second place and two games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. “That is a very good offense (we faced.) They have a bunch of guys that can make contact and put pressure on the defense with their speed, and they have a couple of guys that can put the ball out of the ballpark.”
Home sweet dome. Tropicana Field has been just that for the Tampa Bay Rays so far in 2026. At 26-10 (.722), the club has MLB’s best home record and equaled its second-best 36-game mark inside the friendly confines.
“The fan base has really rallied behind us the entire season,” said first baseman Jonathan Aranda, following Friday night’s 5-2 win over the visiting Nationals. “Thankfully, we have been playing really well. You just want to do your part and put on a good show for the fans.”
The Rays have been doing their part while putting on a good show. After Saturday’s 4-3 loss, they rebounded to win Sunday afternoon’s game by the same score and take the three-game series. Rays’ pitchers allowed five homers during the series, though each was of the solo variety. The pitching did not walk a batter in the first two games and yielded only nine runs overall against MLB’s highest-scoring team.
“We pitched very well,” said manager Kevin Cash, whose club heads into a new week in second place and two games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. “That is a very good offense (we faced.) They have a bunch of guys that can make contact and put pressure on the defense with their speed, and they have a couple of guys that can put the ball out of the ballpark.”
5 months ago
After the Rays took game one, the Nats grinded out a one run win in game two of the three game set. That sets the stage for a rubber match this afternoon. The Nats will look to win yet another series, while the Rays look to stay hot at home.
Blake Butera made a few tweaks to his lineup. Jacob Young is out of the lineup after banging into the wall yesterday. The outfield will consist of Daylen Lile in left, Dylan Crews in center and James Wood in right. Jose Tena will be in the DH spot and Drew Millas will be behind the plate. Andrew Alvarez is on the mound, and the Nats will look for more length than usual from the southpaw.
With a lefty on the mound, the Rays are making a few changes. Ryan Vilade will make his first start of the series in right field. Jonny DeLuca will also be back in the lineup. Ben Williamson will play second base, while Nick Fortes gets his first start of the series behind the plate. Nick Martinez has been a great signing for the Rays, and will take the ball today.
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Blake Butera made a few tweaks to his lineup. Jacob Young is out of the lineup after banging into the wall yesterday. The outfield will consist of Daylen Lile in left, Dylan Crews in center and James Wood in right. Jose Tena will be in the DH spot and Drew Millas will be behind the plate. Andrew Alvarez is on the mound, and the Nats will look for more length than usual from the southpaw.
With a lefty on the mound, the Rays are making a few changes. Ryan Vilade will make his first start of the series in right field. Jonny DeLuca will also be back in the lineup. Ben Williamson will play second base, while Nick Fortes gets his first start of the series behind the plate. Nick Martinez has been a great signing for the Rays, and will take the ball today.
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