Sports
Junior Caminero hits historic HR, red-hot Rays blank Royals
Jul 1, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images Junior Caminero became the youngest player in major league history to homer in six consecutive games, with a two-run shot in the first, and Shane McClanahan allowed three hits over six strong innings, as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays won their seventh straight, 4-0 over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
At 22 years, 361 days old, Caminero topped a mark set by then-23-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. (23 years, 246 days) with his ninth home run in the last eight games. The historic shot came just three batters into the game.
After Jonathan Aranda (two hits) roped a one-out single to center field, Caminero drove the first pitch he saw from Seth Lugo (3-6) well into the left field seats to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead. Caminero has hit six of his 24 home runs in six games versus Kansas City this season.
Cedric Mullins added a solo shot in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth, while Taylor Walls had three hits for the Rays, who matched their longest winning streak of 2026, and secured their first road series win since May 11-13, when they took two of three at Toronto.
McClanahan (7-5), meanwhile, yielded three singles, did not walk a batter and struck out four. The left-hander, who missed the past two seasons due to injuries, was given extra rest after he allowed six runs (two earned) and three homers over six innings of Tampa Bay’s 12-5 loss at Kansas City on June 23.
Cole Sulser, Garrett Cleavinger and Kevin Kelly (four saves) combined to allow three hits to the Royals, who have lost six of seven, including four straight against the Rays. Jac Caglianone had two of the Royals’ six hits.
Lugo threw 23 pitches during the first inning, then settled down and stymied the Rays until the sixth. That’s when he yielded a two-out shot to Mullins that found the right field bullpen.
The veteran right-hander gave up nine hits and struck out seven without a walk in six innings.
Kansas City put runners on first and second with less than two outs in both the eighth and ninth, but Kelly thwarted both potential rallies.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rays slugger Junior Caminero becomes youngest to homer in 6 straight
Jul 1, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images Tampa Bay slugger Junior Caminero became the youngest player in major league history since at least 1900 to hit a home run in six straight games, after delivering a two-run shot in the first inning at Kansas City on Wednesday night.
Caminero, 22 years, 361 days old, went deep on the first pitch he faced, a sinker, from Royals right-hander Seth Lugo just three batters into the contest. A first-time All-Star in 2025, third baseman Caminero has hit nine of his 24 home runs in the last eight games.
Ken Griffey Jr. was 23 years and 246 days old when he homered in his sixth consecutive game on July 25, 1993. Griffey went on to homer in eight straight games, tying the MLB mark belonging to Dale Long (1956) and Don Mattingly (1987).
Willie Mays and Nolan Arenado homered in six straight when they were each age 24. Carlos Pena had set the Tampa Bay franchise record of six in a row from June 6-12, 2010, and now shares it with Caminero.
Lugo also gave up the first two homers in Caminero’s streak at Tropicana Field last Thursday when the native of the Dominican Republic posted his first career three-homer game.
Caminero, who turns 24 on Sunday, entered the day with 75 career home runs in 286 regular-season games, a .269 batting average, .518 slugging percentage and .330 on-base percentage.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WTA ends Saudi Arabia deal early, moves Finals to Indian Wells
Jun 30, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Elena Rybakina (KAZ) hits a forehand against Lois Boisson (FRA) (not pictured) on day two of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Shortly after the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation “mutually agreed” to end their three-year deal to hold the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the WTA announced on Wednesday that the 2026 WTA Finals would be held in Indian Wells, Calif.
The deal would have continued this year, but now the WTA Finals will take place at the site of the BNP Paribas Open, which is held annually in early March.
“From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women’s tennis,” WTA chair Valerie Camillo said in a statement. “We are excited to bring the WTA Finals to Southern California and continue building one of the premier championships in global sport.”
Per Front Office Sports, the WTA’s deal with Indian Wells is only for one year.
Charlotte is the favorite to host the WTA Finals next year, although there is no deal in place.
The WTA was not expected to keep the finals in Saudi Arabia, as the event has struggled to draw fans and keep them engaged in the matches.
According to the site Bounces, the WTA ended the Saudi Arabia deal early due to “turmoil and uncertainty around war and geopolitical tension in the Middle East.”
This past spring after the Dubai Tennis Championships, former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev and several other players and tournament staff members were stuck in the Middle East because of the war between the U.S. and Iran.
The war also caused the cancellation of two Formula One races.
This year’s WTA Finals will be held Nov. 8-15 and feature the eight top-ranked singles and doubles pairs.
The WTA Finals are typically the most lucrative for players, as last year’s singles winner, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, earned a record $5.2 million.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves retire final 20 Cardinals to halt skid, even series
Jul 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) hits a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Ozzie Albies hit a home run and Atlanta pitchers retired the final 20 batters as the Braves took a 5-1 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
The win ended Atlanta’s three-game losing streak and evened the three-game series at one game apiece.
Albies went 2-for-4, scored two runs and had two RBIs. The slumping Atlanta offense showed more life by going 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The Braves got a much-needed lift from starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (4-1), who was able to throw five innings and allowed one run on two hits, both coming in the first inning, and one walk. He struck out six in his second start since returning to the rotation.
The Atlanta bullpen closed the game with four perfect innings. Dylan Dodd, Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglesias each pitched one inning.
St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy (3-7) delivered a quality start, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
The Cardinals scored in the first inning when Ivan Herrera hit a ground-rule double with one out and scored on Jordan Walker’s two-out RBI single to right field.
Atlanta got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Drake Baldwin led off with a hit and scored on Albies’ double to right. Albies was thrown out at third trying to pick up an extra base.
The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the third when Albies hit a solo homer, his 13th, into the stands in right-center.
Atlanta left fielder Mauricio Dubon took a possible homer away from Jose Fermin in the eighth, hauling in a long fly at the base of the fence.
The Braves put the game away by scoring three runs in the ninth. Michael Harris II had an RBI single, Dubon delivered a run-scoring squeeze bunt and Austin Riley ended an 0-for-17 skid with an RBI single. There could have been more damage, but Harris was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Walker after Dominic Smith singled.
–Field Level Media
Rays slugger Junior Caminero becomes youngest to homer in 6 straight
WTA ends Saudi Arabia deal early, moves Finals to Indian Wells
