TAMPA (Interstat) — Junior Caminero hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, sending the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros at George Steinbrenner Field. The win improved Tampa Bay to 88-59 and dropped Houston to 75-73. The game took 2 hours, 22 minutes and drew an announced attendance of 16,217.

Drew Rasmussen was Tampa Bay’s top star, delivering seven innings of one-run baseball. He allowed eight hits, struck out four and did not factor in the decision. Rasmussen kept Houston from turning its nine-hit attack into a big inning. Ethan Pecko started for Houston and was nearly as effective, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing one earned run on one hit with four strikeouts. Bryan King followed with 1 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. Miguel Ullola added a scoreless inning. Bryan Abreu took the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits in one-third of an inning. Bryan Baker earned the win with a scoreless ninth, striking out one. Tyler Wells also pitched a scoreless inning for Tampa Bay and struck out one.

The Astros opened the game with three quick outs in the top of the first. José Altuve grounded out from shortstop Jorge Mateo to first baseman Jonathan Aranda. Jeremy Peña grounded out softly from third baseman Junior Caminero to Aranda. Isaac Paredes grounded out from second baseman Richie Palacios to Aranda. In the bottom of the first, Yandy Díaz flew out to right fielder Cam Smith. Aranda grounded out from first baseman Christian Walker to pitcher Miguel Ullola. Caminero popped out to catcher Yainer Diaz.

Houston threatened in the top of the second. Daulton Varsho struck out swinging. Yainer Diaz singled on a ground ball to right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. Christian Walker then lined into a double play from pitcher Drew Rasmussen to first baseman Aranda, with Diaz out at first. In the bottom of the second, Liam Hicks grounded out from second baseman Nick Allen to first baseman Walker. Mesa grounded out to Walker. Chandler Simpson bunted and grounded out softly from pitcher Bryan King to Walker.

Houston put runners on in the top of the third. Cam Smith grounded out sharply from shortstop Mateo to Aranda. Taylor Trammell singled on a ground ball to right fielder Mesa. Nick Allen singled on a ground ball to right fielder Mesa, moving Trammell to second. José Altuve then grounded into a double play from second baseman Palacios to first baseman Aranda. Allen was out at second and Altuve was out at first. In the bottom of the third, Cedric Mullins grounded out from second baseman Allen to first baseman Walker. Richie Palacios singled on a ground ball to left fielder Taylor Trammell. Jorge Mateo flew out to right fielder Smith. Yandy Díaz struck out swinging.

Houston struck first in the top of the fourth. Jeremy Peña struck out swinging. Isaac Paredes doubled on a sharp line drive to left fielder Chandler Simpson. Daulton Varsho singled on a line drive to center fielder Mullins, moving Paredes to third. Yainer Diaz grounded into a force out from second baseman Palacios to shortstop Mateo. Paredes scored, Varsho was out at second and Diaz reached first. Christian Walker grounded out from shortstop Mateo to first baseman Aranda. In the bottom of the fourth, Aranda popped out to third baseman Paredes in foul territory. Caminero struck out swinging. Hicks popped out to third baseman Paredes.

Houston added another hit in the top of the fifth. Cam Smith singled on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Simpson. Taylor Trammell lined out to right fielder Mesa. Nick Allen grounded out from second baseman Palacios to first baseman Aranda, moving Smith to second. José Altuve singled on a soft bunt ground ball to third baseman Caminero, moving Smith to third. Jeremy Peña was called out on strikes. In the bottom of the fifth, Victor Mesa Jr. homered on a fly ball to right-center field. Chandler Simpson grounded out from shortstop Peña to first baseman Walker. Cedric Mullins struck out swinging. Richie Palacios grounded out sharply from second baseman Allen to first baseman Walker.

Houston got a single in the top of the sixth. Isaac Paredes was called out on strikes. Daulton Varsho flew out sharply to center fielder Mullins. Yainer Diaz singled on a ground ball to right fielder Mesa. Christian Walker lined out sharply to center fielder Mullins. In the bottom of the sixth, Jorge Mateo was hit by a pitch. Yandy Díaz flew out to center fielder Varsho. Jonathan Aranda struck out swinging.

The Astros went down in order in the top of the seventh. Cam Smith popped out to first baseman Aranda. Taylor Trammell lined out sharply to center fielder Mullins. Nick Allen flew out to left fielder Simpson. In the bottom of the seventh, Caminero popped out to shortstop Peña. Hicks grounded out sharply from second baseman Allen to first baseman Walker. Mesa walked. Chandler Simpson grounded out from shortstop Peña to first baseman Walker.

Houston managed one hit in the top of the eighth. José Altuve flew out to right fielder Mesa. Jeremy Peña singled on a line drive to left fielder Simpson. Isaac Paredes struck out swinging. In the bottom of the eighth, Cedric Mullins grounded out from shortstop Peña to first baseman Walker. Richie Palacios walked. Jorge Mateo grounded into a double play from shortstop Peña to first baseman Walker. Palacios was out at second and Mateo was out at first.

In the top of the ninth, Daulton Varsho popped out to third baseman Caminero. Yainer Diaz walked after a challenge confirmed the pitch result. Christian Walker lined out to right fielder Mesa. Cam Smith struck out swinging. In the bottom of the ninth, Yandy Díaz struck out swinging. Jonathan Aranda doubled on a fly ball to right fielder Smith. Jonny DeLuca entered as a pinch runner. Junior Caminero homered on a fly ball to left-center field, scoring DeLuca and giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 walk-off win. Caminero finished 1 for 4 with one home run, one run scored and two RBIs. The home run was his 40th of the season. Aranda’s double was his 24th.

Houston pitchers combined for 11 strikes, 38 balls and 11 balls in play. Tampa Bay pitchers combined for 10 strikes, 43 balls and 10 balls in play. The Astros outhit the Rays 9-4 but left runners on base and hit into two double plays. The Rays turned those double plays behind Rasmussen and the bullpen. Baker improved to 2-2 on the season. Abreu fell to 6-4. The loss ended Houston’s brief winning streak after a 2-1 victory at Philadelphia on Thursday. Tampa Bay had lost 3-1 at Atlanta on Thursday. The teams had met in July in Houston, where Tampa Bay lost two of three. The series continues Saturday and Sunday at George Steinbrenner Field.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Tampa Bay Rays 7, Houston Astros 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tampa Bay with a 57.6 percent probability to win. Tampa Bay had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 4 went over the over/under line of 7.5.