Junior Caminero sent the Tampa Bay Rays to the playoffs.
The Rays became the first major league team to secure a postseason spot, beating the Houston Astros 3-1 on Friday night on Caminero's game-ending, two-run homer -- his 40th of the season.
Tampa Bay (88-59) has held the American League's best record for 115 days this season and hold a three-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East. The next goals for Tampa Bay are securing the division title and locking up the AL's best record and a first-round playoff bye.
It's the first playoff berth in three seasons for the Rays, who lost both games to the Texas Rangers in a wild-card series in 2023.
"Very excited. Very impressed and proud and encouraged with this group," manager Kevin Cash told reporters, as quoted by MLB.com. "It's been pretty consistent all season long how special we thought this group was, and they've just gone out on the field, night after night, and backed it up.
"The guys are pumped in there, rightfully so," he continued. "We're in. I think they all acknowledge we want to continue this, but we're going to celebrate the heck out of it tonight."
The Rays locked up a postseason spot earlier than any team since the Atlanta Braves did it on Sept. 10, 2023, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Milwaukee Brewers joined the Rays in clinching a playoff bid Friday with their 20-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
However, among the clubs that were first to secure playoff berths over the previous 10 seasons, only the Chicago Cubs (2016), Boston Red Sox (2018), Los Angeles Dodgers (2020) and Yankees (2024) have reached the World Series.
"Look, the job's not finished," Tampa Bay designated hitter Yandy Diaz said. "We still have a big title in mind with winning the division."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.