Junior Caminero Leaves Game with Back Discomfort
TAMPA – Dominican third baseman Junior Caminero had to leave Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays due to mid-back tightness, according to the Tampa Bay Rays. The team indicated that the player’s condition is evaluated daily. Caminero went 0-3 with two strikeouts in the game played at George M. Steinbrenner Field. At the end of the fifth inning, after failing with two runners on base, the player showed frustration by throwing his helmet to the ground before heading to the dugout. In the absence of Caminero, Tristan Gray moved from second to third base, Christopher Morel moved to the infield, and Jake Mangum came in to cover left field.Although the Rays no longer have postseason chances, Caminero is still pursuing historical marks for the franchise. He currently has 44 home runs, just two short of Carlos Peña’s record (46 in 2007), and has 108 RBIs, 13 short of matching another record held by Peña himself.
Caminero’s performance has been one of the highlights for Tampa Bay this season, and his physical condition will be closely monitored in the coming days.
