Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero showed no signs of sitting out Friday, taking his usual third spot in the batting order as the Rays opened a day-night doubleheader against the visiting Boston Red Sox.
Caminero had taken a pitch off his left pinky finger from St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O’Brien during the third inning of Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Despite the scare, X-rays taken after he exited that game came back negative. On Friday, he lined out to center field and then singled to left field in his first two trips to the plate — that single standing as Tampa Bay’s lone hit through the first five innings.
Heading into the doubleheader, Caminero was hitting .279 with 28 home runs and 59 RBIs on the season. The 23-year-old is tied for fourth in all of Major League Baseball in home runs, sharing that spot with Washington outfielder James Wood. Caminero had been on a particularly hot streak before the break, launching 13 home runs over his final 19 games leading up to the All-Star break.
The injury news was not as encouraging for two other Rays players working their way back from the disabled list. Manager Kevin Cash announced that outfielder Jake Fraley and second baseman Gavin Lux both returned to St. Petersburg, Florida, after suffering setbacks during their rehab stints with Triple-A Durham.
Fraley, 31, has been sidelined since May 15 while dealing with hernia and groin problems. Lux, who came to Tampa Bay from the Cincinnati Reds during the offseason, has been on the injured list since before Opening Day and has yet to appear in a game for the Rays. Cash said the 28-year-old Lux required a pain-killing injection in his right shoulder before he can continue his recovery.
