Junior Caminero homers in 6th straight game to lead Rays to 7th win in a row

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Junior Caminero homered in his sixth straight game to match the Tampa Bay record, hitting a two-run shot in the first first inning to help the Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-0 on Wednesday night for their seventh victory in a row.

Caminero hit his 24th homer on the first pitch he saw from Seth Lugo (3-6) following Jonathan Aranda’s one-out single. Caminero tied Carlos Peña’s team record set in 2010.

Caminero is two away from tying the major league record of eight set by the Pirates’ Dale Long in 1956 and matched by the Yankees’ Don Mattingly in 1987 and the Mariners’ Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993. Rafael Devers was the last player to homer in six straight games, doing so for the Red Sox in May of 2024.

Shane McClanahan (7-5) limited Kansas City to three hits in six innings, throwing 49 of 69 pitches for strikes. The left-hander got back on track after going 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in four June starts.

Cole Sulser struck out two in a scoreless seventh. Garrett Cleavinger got two outs in the eighth but left with two runners on base. Kevin Kelly retired Bobby Witt Jr. on a comebacker to end the threat. Kelly allowed the first two batters to reach in the ninth before closing it out for his fourth save.

Lugo (3-6) struck out Caminero his next two times up, but Cedric Mullins hit his ninth homer — a two-out shot in the sixth for a 3-0 advantage. Lugo gave up three runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Mullins drove in the Rays' final run with a single off Jose Cuas in the eighth.

Tampa Bay is the first AL team to 50 wins and has opened up a 3 1/2-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

Royals RHP Stephen Kolek (4-2, 4.15 ERA) was set to start Thursday in the series finale. The Rays had not announced their starter.

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Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., left, tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson, right, after attempting to steal second base during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Seth Lugo delivers to a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates at home plate after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero (13) celebrates his two-run home run with Jonathan Aranda, right, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan delivers to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies homered and drove in two runs, and the Atlanta Braves held the St. Louis Cardinals to two hits in a 5-1 victory Wednesday night.

The win was just the fifth in 18 games for the Braves, who nevertheless have managed to hold onto first place in the NL East.

Reynaldo López (4-1) pitched five strong innings in his second start since returning to the rotation after losing his starting spot in April. He gave up one run on two hits with a walk and five strikeouts. The right-hander threw 68 pitches, 44 for strikes.

Atlanta's bullpen, which entered with a major league-best 2.76 ERA, tossed four perfect innings to secure the win. Dylan Dodd, Didier Fuentes and Dylan Lee set up closer Raisel Iglesias, who earned his 17th save.

Braves pitchers retired 20 batters in a row to end the game.

Albies' solo home run to right field in the third inning snapped a 1-all tie. He also had an RBI double in the first that knocked in Drake Baldwin from first base.

Atlanta tacked on three runs in the eighth. Michael Harris II and Austin Riley each had an RBI single. Mauricio Dubón drove in Albies with a sacrifice bunt.

Dubón took away a home run from Cardinals pinch-hitter José Fermín in the eighth to preserve a 2-1 lead.

St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy (3-7) gave up two runs and three hits in six innings. He hasn't won in his last nine starts even though he leads the team in ERA at 3.12 and has allowed two runs or fewer 12 times this season.

RHP Dustin May (5-6, 4.30 ERA) will close out the three-game series for St. Louis on Thursday. RHP Hurston Waldrep (0-0, 0.00) starts for Atlanta.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves Raisel Iglesias (26), right, is congradulated by teammate Austin Riley (27), left, at the end of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) rounds third base during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Iván Herrera (48) rounds third base towards home during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta BravesWednesday, July 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

St. Louis Cardinals Michael McGreevy (36) throws a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

Atlanta Braves Reynaldo López (40) throws out the first pitch of the game during first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) scores a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)