Rays happy to be home, show it with win vs. familiar-looking Nationals

Friday afternoon was filled with hugs and handshakes as a group of Nationals players and staff who used to be with the Rays returned to Tropicana Field, several for the first time as visitors.

But the Rays were much more excited about the high-fives afterward, as they celebrated a win for the first time in five days, beating Washington 5-2 in their return home after a rough road trip.

As bad as the Rays had been playing the last 3 ½ weeks, losing 15 of their previous 22 games, they still have comfort in being under the tilted roof, where they improved their majors-best home record to 25-9.

"This is our home, this is home field, and we have such an advantage playing here," starter Griffin Jax said. "So anytime we can limit any sort of run scoring from the other side and give our guys a chance, we're going to be in a good spot."

Jonathan Aranda had the key hit, a three-run homer in the third inning in which he managed to drive an outside changeup down the leftfield line and off the screeen on the fair side of the foul pole.

"Big swing - we haven't had one of those in a while," manager Kevin Cash said. "Really impressive piece of hitting by him."

Aranda said the main focus was trying to get Hunter Feduccia home from second, but was able to stay on the pitch and drive it the other way. He wasn't sure the ball, which had an exit velocity of just 95.2 mph, was fair and over the fence.

"Not initially," he said via team interpreter Kevin Vera. "I didn't know it was going to be a home run, so I was just rounding second and kind of taking my time. The ball kept rising. But when the (stadium) lights started to flash in and out, I knew that was when it went out."

Taylor Walls knocked in a run in the fourth, and Jonny DeLuca, fresh off the injured list, homered in the eighth.

Jax, facing the majors' top scoring offense, allowed just two solo homers - "those aren't going to kill you in this game," he said - and got his first win since he began transitioning from reliever to starter in late April.

Jax, though, was again limited from going deeper by a blister under the nail of his right middle finger that began to bleed and had to be drained between innings.

The blister seems to become an issue when he gets to the 50-60 mark; Friday he was at 69 after five innings.

"This go-around I was feeling really optimistic about the blister," Jax said. "I thought we did a good job of treatment, leading throughout the week, had a really good side (throwing session), didn't show any signs of anything that was going to get me worried going to the start.

"But around the third, fourth inning, I looked down and noticed it filled back up with blood and had to start draining it. And once that happens, that's when I feel like a little bit of extra friction."

Jax said overall the issue has improved from past starts.

"I think we're starting to finally turn a corner," he said, "but just trying to not let it get to the point where I have to miss a start. So it's delicate."

During the Rays' 22-game skid, all parts of their game bore some blame.

Friday, they did just about everything right: A couple good plays and a key pickoff by Garrett Cleavinger, Jax's solid start, enough offense and a strong showing by the bullpen.

"It was just solid all around," DeLuca said.

Four relievers teamed for the final 12 outs. The most impressive work was by lefty Steven Matz, was recently was bumped from the rotation to bullpen, and struggled in relief as well.

Friday he retired five of the six batters he faced, and looked to have regained his velocity, clocking as high as 95.8 mph.

"I was happy for Matz," Cash said. "I know he's been grinding through it a little bit right now, but his stuff is really good. The ball's coming out of his hand really, really well. He executed pitches, got us five really big outs. That was a pivotal point in the game, them turning the lineup over."

Nationals players Curtis Mead, Zack Littell and Richard Lovelady; manager Blake Butera; coaches Michael Johns, Bobby Wilson and Shawn O'Malley; and general manager Ani Kilambi all spent time in the Rays' organization and had different feelings about coming back in a different uniform.

"It's very weird," Butera said before the game.

Littell, who isn't pitching in the series, said he was enjoying the opportunity to visit with former teammates and being back in the Tampa Bay area, having brought his family down. The Rays honored Littell, who pitched for them from May 2023 to July 2025, with a tribute video.

The Rays were just happy to be the hosts, before a Trop announced crowd of 17,134.

"It's been great, right?" Aranda said. "The fanbase has really rallied behind us this entire year, and thankfully we've been playing really well as of late. You just want to put on a good show for the fans and do your part."

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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 9:59 PM.