The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Houston Astros 3-1 on Friday at Daikin Park in Houston, extending their major league-leading winning streak to nine games.
Junior Caminero and Nick Fortes both homered for the American League East leaders, who improved to 50-33.
The Rays became the first AL team to reach 50 wins this season.
Houston dropped to 43-47 as their bullpen struggled in the late innings.
Rays starter Nick Martinez pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits.
Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti threw six strong innings, giving up one run on two hits before leaving with the game tied 1-1.
Fortes broke the scoreless tie in the sixth with a solo home run off Arrighetti.
Houston answered in the bottom half when Yordan Alvarez hit his 27th home run of the season off Martinez.
Caminero reclaimed the lead in the seventh with a solo homer off reliever Steven Okert.
It was Caminero's 25th home run of the season and his 10th in the last 10 games.
“Pretty surprised,” Caminero said. “Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. … When my name stays in that lineup, it's unbelievable.”
Caminero recently became the youngest player since 1900 to homer in six consecutive games, matching a franchise record set by Carlos Pena.
He also won the American League Player of the Month award for June.
“I feel really comfortable the last two weeks,” Caminero said. “I'm trying to be aggressive in the zone.”
The young slugger has committed to participating in the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, aiming to improve on his runner-up finish from last season.
“Champion – that's the goal,” he said.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Caminero's historic stretch.
“It's kind of amazing when you've got 25 other players in the dugout that are pretty much in awe, along with an entire coaching staff,” Cash said.
“That means you're doing some incredible things.”
Fortes added an RBI double in the eighth inning to drive in Taylor Walls, providing an insurance run.
The Rays' bullpen retired the final 11 Houston batters in order.
“He gets a pitch to hit and he's not missing,” Fortes said. “I've never experienced it so I don't know how to describe it.”
Reliever Kevin Kelly earned the win after entering in the sixth inning. Bryan Baker recorded the final outs for his 23rd save of the season.
“I mean, thank God he's on our team,” pitcher Griffin Jax said.
“The way he's doing it with the power and the not chasing and the not whiffing is just so impressive.”
Major League Baseball is scheduled to announce the full All-Star rosters on Saturday ahead of the Midseason Classic on July 14.
