Junior Caminero’s ALCS Game 6 Rays HR was unprecedented in multiple ways

With the Tampa Bay Rays eliminating the Cleveland Guardians from the ALCS after a 7-3 win in Game 6, a big moment in the game was the home run from Junior Caminero in the seventh inning. As the blast by Caminero for the Rays was pivotal in giving the team a comfortable lead, the home run was also unprecedented in multiple ways.

Happening in the seventh inning, Caminero hit the home run off of Guardians closer Cade Smith, tied for first in the MLB with 41 saves to go along with a 1.95 ERA. Boasting a productive splitter, Caminero hit the home run off of it, making it the first time that has happened in Smith's career, to go along with it being Caminero's first playoff home run in his career.

"That blast was an unlikely two-run home run against All-Star closer Cade Smith in the seventh inning of the Rays' pennant-clinching win. Never had Smith allowed a homer on his splitter in his major league career. Then Caminero turned on one in on his hands and clanked it off the foul pole to ignite a raucous celebration of his first career postseason home run," Castillo wrote at ESPN.

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How Rays' Junior Caminero and his celebration were historic

Caminero is in the midst of a great season for the Rays, recording a .276 batting average to go along with 42 home runs and 101 RBIs. Another way the home run was eye-opening was the celebration at home plate, as he paid homage to Randy Arozarena , crossing his arms across his chest as he did during his 2020 postseason run to the World Series, with Caminero taking 38.7 seconds to boast.

Consequently, that marks "the longest postseason home run trot of the Statcast era."

Subsequently, Caminero would say "that came naturally," as he looks to help Tampa Bay get its first World Series title as the team takes on the Milwaukee Brewers in the championship series.