Rays Beat Yankees 4-2: Junior Caminero Homers, Drew Rasmussen Shines for Tampa Bay

Monday, July 28th, 2025

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday, July 28, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, opening a four-game series with a hard-fought victory. Rookie Junior Caminero’s two-run homer set the tone early, while Drew Rasmussen recovered from a rocky start to pitch five solid innings, securing a crucial win for the Rays.

Rays Offense Delivers Key Hits

Junior Caminero continued his impressive season, launching a two-run home run off Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (1-1) in the first inning. This marked Caminero’s 27th home run of the year, giving the Rays an immediate lead. Later, in the fifth inning, Josh Lowe delivered a go-ahead single that ultimately chased the rookie starter, Schlittler, from the game.

Yandy Díaz contributed an additional run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, part of an inning where the Rays also managed two infield hits, extending their lead and solidifying the win.

Rasmussen Overcomes Early Adversity

Drew Rasmussen (8-5) faced immediate trouble in the bottom of the first inning. The Yankees loaded the bases with one out after consecutive singles from Jasson Domínguez, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton. Rasmussen then issued walks to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ryan McMahon, forcing in two runs and tying the game.

Despite the shaky start, Rasmussen showcased remarkable resilience. After the first inning, he retired 12 straight batters and 13 of his final 14, settling into a dominant rhythm. He concluded his outing after five innings, allowing only four hits and striking out five batters.

Dominant Bullpen Performance

The Rays’ bullpen effectively shut down the Yankees offense. Edwin Uceta pitched two perfect innings in relief, striking out four batters. Pete Fairbanks then entered the game, securing four crucial outs for his 18th save of the season, closing out the game for Tampa Bay.

Yankees' Struggle at the Plate

Cam Schlittler, in his third career start, allowed three runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings for the Yankees. Following a five-game winning streak from July 6-11, the Yankees have now lost eight of their last 12 games. After seeing 33 pitches in the eventful first inning, New York’s offense managed only three baserunners for the remainder of the game, highlighting their struggles to generate consistent offense against the Rays' pitching staff.

Key Moments

Pete Fairbanks delivered a critical strikeout of Giancarlo Stanton on a high fastball with a runner on first base to end the eighth inning, preserving the Rays' lead. The game concluded when Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca made a well-executed running catch on a flyball hit by Austin Wells, securing the final out.

Key Stats

Drew Rasmussen’s impressive outing continued his success at Yankee Stadium, where he has now allowed only two runs in 18 career innings. Junior Caminero’s two-run homer was a significant turnaround for the young slugger, who had gone just 1 for 12 in the Rays’ previous series in Cincinnati.

Up Next in the Series

The series continues on Tuesday night. The New York Yankees are scheduled to send left-handed pitcher Max Fried (11-4, 2.62 ERA) to the mound. Fried has faced some struggles recently, holding a 1-2 record with a 6.75 ERA in his last four starts. He will be matched up against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Joe Boyle (1-0, 1.42 ERA).

In summary

The Tampa Bay Rays secured a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees on July 28, 2025, at Yankee Stadium. Junior Caminero's two-run homer and Josh Lowe's go-ahead single led the Rays' offense. Pitcher Drew Rasmussen overcame early struggles to deliver five strong innings, supported by perfect relief from Edwin Uceta and Pete Fairbanks, who earned his 18th save. The Yankees' offense was largely stifled after the first inning, contributing to their recent slide. This win marked the opening of a four-game series between the AL East rivals.

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• Tampa Bay Rays News & Updates
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