Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero was in his customary No. 3 spot in the batting order for Game 1 of the Rays’ day-night doubleheader with the visiting Boston Red Sox on Friday.
Caminero, who was drilled in the left pinky by the St. Louis Cardinals’ Riley O’Brien in the third inning of the All-Star Game on Tuesday, lined out to center and singled to left in his first two plate appearances Friday. That single was the Rays’ only hit through the first five innings.
Caminero left the All-Star Game immediately and underwent X-rays that proved negative. He carried a .279 average along with 28 home runs and 59 RBIs into the doubleheader.
The 23-year-old shares fourth place with Washington outfielder James Wood for most home runs in MLB. Caminero banged 13 homers in his final 19 games before the All-Star break.
The news was less bright for two Rays veterans trying to make their way back from injuries. Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said outfielder Jake Fraley and second baseman Gavin Lux returned to St. Petersburg, Fla., with injuries that forced them to pause their rehab assignments at Triple-A Durham.
The 31-year-old Fraley, who hasn’t played for the Rays since May 15, has been dealing with hernia and groin issues. Lux, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason, has been on the injured list since before the season started and has yet to make his Rays debut. Cash indicated Lux, 28, needed a pain-killing injection in his right shoulder.
