Junior Caminero homers as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 8-3

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Junior Caminero hit a three-run homer, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 8–3 on Sunday in front of a sellout crowd of 10,046 at George M. Steinbrenner Field.​

Yandy Díaz also went deep for Tampa Bay, which won two of three in the weekend series. Joe Boyle (1-0) struck out seven while pitching no-hit ball into the sixth inning.

Caminero committed a costly error in Atlanta’s three-run sixth. But he responded with a drive to right in the bottom half for his third homer of the season. He also connected on Saturday.

Atlanta finished with four hits while dropping to 1-9 on the road this season.

Braves ace Chris Sale permitted four runs — three earned — and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner struck out seven and walked three.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joe Boyle throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Christopher Morel’s RBI single lifted the Rays to a 4-0 lead in the fifth.

Boyle made a spot start for the Rays, who wanted to push Shane Baz back to Monday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox. He was charged with two unearned runs.

Key moment

After retiring 15 of his first 18 batters, Boyle hit a batter and walked another in the sixth, prompting manager Kevin Cash to pull him. The Braves capitalized, scoring three runs on an error and two hits.​

Key stat

Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero celebrates scoring on a single by José Caballero (not pictured) during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

It was the highest scoring game for Tampa Bay so far this season.

Up next

Baz (1–0, 1.38 ERA) starts on Monday against the Red Sox. Grant Holmes (0–1, 4.00 ERA) takes the mound for the Braves at Toronto on Monday night.

Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero celebrates his double off Los Angeles Angels pitcher José Soriano during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero rounds the bases after his home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

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