Rays hit 3 homers in win over White Sox, improve to AL-best 10-7

CHICAGO - As the Rays have been bunting freely and running wild in posting the American League's best record, manager Kevin Cash has reminded that they can, and will, flex their muscles and put on a power show as well.

There was a glimpse of that Wednesday, as they hit a season-high-matching three homers in extending their winning streak to five with an 8-3 victory over the White Sox that improved their record to a league-leading 10-7.

"I feel when we're right, we can be very balanced with home runs and speed," manager Kevin Cash said. "I do think that we're going to hit our share of home runs. Some nights are going to be different than others, but we'll take the homers, especially the three-run homers."

They got one of those Wednesday from Jonny DeLuca, whose pinch-hit blast in the seventh inning separated the game. They also got solo shots from Junior Caminero, his third of the season, and Jake Fraley, his first as a Ray.

It was the Rays' first multi-homer game in more than a week, though they won five of the seven games.

"I think it just goes to show we can do a little bit of everything," DeLuca said. "And that we're not just - the small ball's great, we want to do that, we want to be able to have that in our back pocket, but if we need to slug, we'll slug, too."

Added Caminero, "We have everything this year."

The Rays had won their previous three games without any home runs, something they had accomplished only six other times in franchise history. And they hit only one in the three games before that. Going into play Wednesday, their 12 homers were tied for third fewest in the majors.

Caminero, off to a slow start following his 45-homer, 110-RBI breakout performance last year, had the most impressive homer of the three.

That was because he hit the ball hard (104.8 mph off the bat) and far (393 feet) with his right hand coming off the bat just after contact with Sean Burke's 77.6 mph knuckle curve.

Caminero said he thought he hit it with one hand and said he'd done such a feat multiple times before.

"It looked like he kind of caught it out front a little bit - a nice, easy swing," Cash said. "That's the benefit of being really strong and 22 years old."

Caminero said he isn't concerned about his numbers so far - three homers and six RBIs - and noted he felt "way, way better" at the plate on Wednesday.

"I know who I am," he said. "I'm going to go out and have fun. Half a year, year by year, my numbers are going to be there. Everybody knows I can hit. So I'm waiting. I feel good starting the season now with a lot of games coming."

As the Rays scored eight, three pitchers - Cole Sulser, Jesse Scholtens and Mason Englert - teamed to keep the Sox down. Lefty Ian Seymour allowed the three runs in a messy ninth.

Scholtens did the bulk of the work, as Sulser worked the first two innings as an opener. They were pitching in place of Joe Boyle, who is sidelined with a right elbow strain after stepping in for Ryan Pepiot, out since late spring due to right hip inflammation.

Over his five innings, Scholtens, who debuted with the White Sox in 2023, allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out three. That after throwing 4 ⅔ shutout innings on April 8 against the Cubs.

"He's been pretty incredible for us," Cash said "The intent with throwing the ball over the plate really stands out. There's no fear. He's going to attack, use his stuff and mix his pitches really, really well.

"I'm really happy he got through that final inning there. So (77 pitches), no runs, that's really impressive."

Scholtens said his success is the product of a straightforward approach, with an assist to catcher Hunter Feduccia.

"Kind of trying to compete in the strike zone," Scholtens said. "Feddy's been doing a great job the last two outings preparing, making my job a lot easier. Just going out there trying to execute the best I can, compete within the strike zone, let the defense kind of do their job behind me and just trying to keep it simple."

The 32-year-old said he prides himself on throwing strikes and knows it is imperative if he wants to stay in the majors.

"It's kind of been my forte, I guess you can say," Scholtens said. "Just trying to compete within the strike zone, making everybody earn it. That's my strength is filling up the strike zone, so just trying to stay there."

The only disappointment for Scholtens was that his wife, Sydney, had planned to bring their 2 ½-month old daughter, Blair, to see him pitch for the first time.

But when Blair made it only through the top of the first inning Tuesday before falling asleep, they decided to wait for her to see dad in action.

"I was like, maybe we should hold out a couple more months," he said.

****Today

at White Sox, 2:10 Streaming: Rays.TV (see raysbaseball.com/watch for more options) Radio: 95.7-FM, 620-AM

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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 11:22 PM.