Despite dealing with a left foot injury and being pulled for a pinch-runner during the Rays’ Game 4 win to extend the World Series, Junior Caminero is expected to be fine and should return to the lineup for Wednesday’s Game 5.
“He’ll play tomorrow on one leg; I’ll make sure of it,” manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday night.
Caminero sparked the Rays’ 12th-inning rally Tuesday night. He grounded a 1-1 pitch toward third base to lead off the inning. With Caminero hustling down the line, Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz bounced his throw short of the first-base bag, and Jake Bauers couldn’t make the pick.
After the sprint, Caminero walked back to first gingerly. But he stayed in the game, and when Liam Hicks shot a single to left-center field, Caminero shook off any pain and advanced all the way to third base.
Caminero was then lifted for pinch-runner Cedric Mullins. The Rays’ superstar third baseman was still visibly hobbled as he slowly walked back to the dugout. However, Cash explained after the game that they were not going to replace Caminero until he reached scoring position, both to give them a better chance at scoring on a potential sacrifice fly and because their bench was already thin.
Mullins then scored the tying run on Jonny DeLuca’s single in the ensuing at-bat. Chandler Simpson and Ben Williamson also hit singles of their own in the next two at-bats to secure the walk-off win.
All started by Caminero’s max-effort play. The type of play needed when every game is a must-win from here on out.
“I know Cammy getting down the line, putting some pressure on Ortiz right there,” Cash said. “We were fortunate to get him at first base.”