Nick Fortes, Junior Caminero Power Tampa Bay Rays Past Chicago Cubs 5-4 With Late-Inning Homers – Game Recap & Highlights (September 13, 2025)

Saturday, September 13th, 2025

Tampa Bay Rays Edge Chicago Cubs 5-4 With Ninth-Inning Homer

The Tampa Bay Rays claimed a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, thanks to a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning from Nick Fortes. The thrilling MLB matchup kept fans on the edge of their seats and saw several lead changes before the Rays sealed the win.

Late-Inning Fireworks Propel Rays to Victory

The Cubs held a 4-3 advantage heading into the eighth inning, but Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero hit a leadoff homer off Porter Hodge to tie the game. That shot marked Caminero’s 43rd homer of the season, extending his career high and placing him just three shy of Carlos Peña’s franchise single-season record of 46.

With the score tied in the ninth, Nick Fortes launched a 421-foot home run to left-center, his fifth of the season. The blast snapped pitcher Brad Keller’s streak of 22 consecutive scoreless appearances dating back to mid-July. Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless eighth for Tampa Bay and earned the win, while Pete Fairbanks secured his 26th save in 31 opportunities as the Rays snapped a stretch of six losses in their last seven games.

Dramatic Finish in the Ninth Inning

Chicago threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners on the corners with none out. But Junior Caminero made a crucial defensive play, throwing out Dansby Swanson at home on Matt Shaw’s grounder to third. Pete Fairbanks then struck out Michael Busch and Ian Happ to end the game and preserve the Tampa Bay victory.

Cubs’ Offense Highlights and Celebrations

For the Cubs, rookie Michael Busch and Moisés Ballesteros both homered as part of Chicago’s offensive effort. Busch hit his 27th home run in the seventh inning to give the Cubs a temporary lead. Nico Hoerner contributed two hits and scored a run for Chicago. Before the game, the Cubs honored Anthony Rizzo, a key member of their 2016 World Series team, in a special pregame ceremony. Rizzo, who retired recently, was nearly part of a memorable defensive play when a first-career homer from Ballesteros went off his hands in the second inning.

Key Moments and Stats

Dansby Swanson delivered a pivotal two-run double in the fourth inning to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. However, Tampa Bay fought back, highlighted by Brandon Lowe’s RBI double and Jake Mangum’s pinch-hit single in the sixth to tie the score. In a critical moment, Cubs rookie Owen Caissie struck out with a runner in scoring position in the fourth, missing a chance to extend Chicago’s lead.

Junior Caminero now needs only three more home runs to tie Carlos Peña’s all-time franchise single-season record, making his performance a storyline to watch as the season progresses.

Looking Ahead

The series finale is set for Sunday. Adrian Houser (8-4, 3.11 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rays, while the Cubs will send left-hander Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.21 ERA) to the mound. Both teams will look to gain momentum as the season moves toward its final stretch.

In summary

The Tampa Bay Rays came from behind to defeat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 at Wrigley Field, highlighted by late home runs from Junior Caminero and Nick Fortes. The game featured key defensive plays, clutch pitching, and significant offensive milestones, including Caminero’s continued pursuit of the Rays’ home run record. The Cubs, despite a strong showing and emotional celebrations for Anthony Rizzo, fell just short in a tightly contested matchup. With the series finale ahead, both teams remain focused on securing crucial wins as the postseason approaches.

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