Deep in the heart of Texas: Astros 10, Rays 8

Is it me, or does it feel like the Rays almost never play well on holidays?Your gut feeling would be right, as Tampa Bay is now *checks notes* 10-18 on Independence Day.The Rays used some of their big pyrotechnics early, as the hottest bat in the sport, Junior Caminero, homered AGAIN in the first inning to make it his 11th home run in 11 games.

11+ home runs in an 11-game span in a single season:2026 Junior Caminero 2021 Kyle Schwarber 2019 Nelson Cruz2010 Troy Tulowitzki2001 Barry Bonds1998 Sammy Sosa1998 Mark McGwire1995 Albert Belle1982 Doug DeCinces1976 Mike Schmidt 1968 Frank Howard1962 Harmon… https://t.co/aLpsXkq23c— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 4, 2026Fellow AL all-star starter Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run blast in the bottom half of the frame, but we’ll circle back to him momentarily.

Richie Palacios would put up a crooked number of his own, a two-run go-ahead homer in the second, making it 4-0.Tampa bay would go on to plate three more in the third, with a Victor Mesa Jr. sacrifice fly, a Jonny DeLuca RBI single, and a Cedric Mullins steal of home to wrap up the frame.

A Caminero fielders choice and a Nick Allen throwing error would plate Taylor Walls, and Tampa Bay’s finest would have a five run lead in the fourth inning.Houston would continue to chip away, as Yainer Diaz stroked a two-run homer and an Alvarez single brought it to 7-5.A DeLuca homer in the seventh put the Rays up 8-5, and one would think that the B bullpen could rummage up nine outs to close this one out going into the bullpen day on Sunday, right?

An Alvarez sacrifice fly, and a couple RBI steaks served up to Isaac Paredes and Zach Dezenzo, by way of Garrett Cleavinger and Craig Kimbrel, and we are tied at eight from Daikin Park.The Rays would go quietly in the ninth against Josh Hader, and as soon as the scorebug flashed to which Astros batter was looming, I think you can foreshadow the next series of events.YORDAN ALVAREZ'S SECOND HOMER OF THE NIGHT COMES IN WALK-OFF FASHION!

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