ATLANTA -- In the grand scheme of things, only a few numbers really mattered for the Rays on Tuesday night at Truist Park.
Start with the final score: 7-1, Rays.
Then look at Tampa Bay’s record: 86-58, best in the American League. Go ahead and include four, too, because the Rays are still four games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East with 18 remaining.
Tampa Bay began a challenging march to the end of the regular season with an impressive win over the Braves, and the top priorities remain clinching a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2023, then sealing the club's first division title since 2021.
But the Rays did a lot of encouraging things to earn the series-opening victory against the National League East-leading Braves, with a handful of their most key players getting in on the action. Here are a few of the important numbers they produced individually as the Rays collectively moved even closer to the playoffs.
Junior Caminero: 39, 455
Caminero started the scoring in the first inning by crushing a 2-0 fastball from Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver out to left-center field for a solo homer. It was Caminero’s 39th home run of the season, surpassing Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez for the AL lead, and it traveled a Statcast-projected 455 feet.
It was the second-longest home run of Caminero’s career, behind only the 463-foot blast he hit off Merrill Kelly on June 28.
Chandler Simpson: 404, 40
This is going to be a special series for Simpson, the Atlanta native playing in his hometown for the first time as a Major Leaguer. He had a section full of family and friends, including his parents, Ralph and Edye, cheering for him near his spot in left field on Tuesday night.
Just playing a big league game within the 404 area code would be unforgettable for the second-year speedster. But he made it a memorable night on the field, too, recording his 40th stolen base of the season as he swiped second and came around to score on a Victor Mesa Jr. single in the third inning.
Simpson, who stole 44 bases as a rookie last season, became only the fifth player in the modern era to reach 40 steals in each of their first two Major League campaigns, joining Chad Curtis (1992-93), Delino DeShields (1990-91), Vince Coleman (1985-86) and Bert Daniels (1910-11).
Freddy Peralta: 6, 1, 92
That’s six innings with just one run allowed on 92 pitches for Peralta, who recorded his third straight quality start to continue his remarkable turnaround since joining the Rays before the Trade Deadline.
The right-hander shut down the Braves with a familiar formula, leaning on his fastball and changeup while mixing in some curveballs and sweepers as he permitted only five hits (all singles) and a walk. Peralta retired 16 of the final 18 batters he faced, and he threw only 60 pitches over his final five innings after a 32-pitch first.
Liam Hicks: 2-2, 18
Behind the plate, Hicks played a big part in Peralta’s turnaround. With the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning, Peralta battled Austin Riley for seven pitches before firing a 2-2 changeup down and away.
It was initially called a ball, but Hicks alertly challenged the pitch. Sure enough, Peralta’s offspeed offering grazed the outside corner, and the call was overturned to an inning-ending strike.
Hicks continued to be a force at the plate, too, blasting a two-run homer that sailed over the head of right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. -- although he sold it well -- and into the seats for the cleanup-hitting catcher’s 18th homer.
Victor Mesa Jr.: 25, 2, 1
Mesa knows how to celebrate a birthday. A year ago, he blasted his first career home run on the day he turned 24 years old. On Tuesday night, he picked up a pair of hits and stole a base on his 25th birthday.