TAMPA, Fla – It has been quite a week for Evan Longoria. The Rays’ all-time leader in games (1,435), home runs (261) and RBI (892) was honored at the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame banquet Wednesday evening at Higgins Hall. On Saturday, the former third baseman will retire as a member of the team when he signs a ceremonial one-day contract.
“It’s pretty special,” he said. “I have been retired, but it kind of puts a stamp on it, coming back to the place where it all started.”
It started for Longoria in 2008, which also serves as a line of demarcation in club history. It was the first season the team was known as the “Rays” and when Joe Maddon’s squad captured the franchise’s first American League crown and went to the World Series. Longoria was the AL’s rookie of the year after hitting .272 with 27 home runs and 85 RBI.
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“Joe and the group that we put together kind of transformed what the Tampa Bay Rays were from that point forward,” said the 39-year-old, who will throw out the first pitch before the Rays host the Marlins at 4:10. “They have done a great job continuing the success that we kind of started.”
Longoria, who did not return to the Trop in his six seasons with the Giants and Diamondbacks, but played in five games against his former team when the Rays visited San Francisco in 2019 and Arizona in his final season of 2023, will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame next year.
Junior’s power display
It did not take long for Junior Caminero bobbleheads to appear on eBay. In fact, several were available on the platform not long after fans were admitted 90 minutes before 7:35 first pitch against the Rangers on Thursday night. More than 30 sold by early Friday afternoon and generally in the $30-$60 range.
Caminero did his part and then some on giveaway night, homering in the second inning and igniting a bizarre ninth-inning comeback by singling in a run to bring the Rays to within 3-2. He then scored the winning run on Taylor Walls’ two-run, two-out infield single.
“We battled, we fought,” said Caminero. “When we came into the ninth inning I told myself, ‘This is our inning. We’re going to get them here.’ As soon as (Walls) put the ball in play, I was gone.”
Caminero advanced 180 feet on a grounder that did not leave the infield.
“If he gets thrown out right there, I still think that is a pretty good decision,” said manager Kevin Cash. “You are putting a ton of pressure on the defense.”
Caminero has been putting plenty of pressure on opposing pitchers. He heads into Saturday afternoon’s game against the Marlins hitting .382 (21-for-55) with seven homers and 20 RBI in his last 14 games. He doubled twice in Friday’s 4-3 win over Miami.
Orze’s effectiveness
Eric Orze fanned three in 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Rangers on Thursday evening to stretch his scoreless streak to seven appearances and 11 of 12 while lowering his ERA to 0.77, a mark that is the lowest in the American League and second lowest in MLB.
READ: From Rays To Twins: Rocco Baldelli’s Enduring Love For Tampa Bay On ‘The Rock Stops Here’
“With the results he is getting, we are seeing a guy that is pitching with more confidence and he is taking advantage of it,” said Cash, noting how effective the righthander has been with his fastball and splitter.
Citrus Series
The series against the Marlins resumes Saturday (4:10) when Taj Bradley (4-5, 3.95 ERA) is opposed by lefty Ryan Weathers (1-1, 2.49). Sunday’s game is 12:10, an earlier start to help alleviate congestion with Metallica’s second performance (6:00) of the weekend at Raymond James Stadium. Drew Rasmussen (5-4, 2.14) seeks to extend his 23-inning scoreless streak. The Marlins had not announced a starter as of Friday evening.
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