Caminero Returns as Durham drills Iron Pigs, 12-9

It didn’t take long for Junior Caminero to remind baseball why he is arguably the top player currently in minor league baseball with the Durham Bulls.

The 20-year-old, who missed the last two weeks with a left quadricep injury, doubled off the right field wall to score two runs in the fifth. Three innings later, Caminero powered a 425’ shot to right-center at over 110mph, driving in three more. To top it off, Caminero stretched to his left to stop a would-be two-run single as Lehigh Valley mounted a late-game surge in the eighth inning. Instead, Caminero calmly spun, patted his glove and rifled a throw to first base to extinguish the threat.

Thanks to a 12-9 win, the Bulls (6-9) split their six-game series against Lehigh Valley (6-6) as their road trip marches to Worcester on Tuesday night.

One night after managing just six singles, the Bulls collaborated for seven extra base hits. Dominic Smith had three, with a pair of doubles and a two-run homer in the second inning off of starter Kolby Allard (L, 0-2). Smith drove in three runs before being ejected in the sixth inning following his second double.

Tristan Peters reached base five times thanks to three walks and two singles.

Joe Rock (W, 1-0) notched his first win in the Tampa Bay organization, pitching five innings of two-run ball. Rock was acquired by the Rays late in spring training from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Greg Jones.

Following Caminero’s home run in the seventh, the Bulls led 12-2. Lehigh Valley scored seven unanswered, but never brought the tying run to the plate.

The Bulls road trip continues Tuesday night at 6:05 from Polar Park with Mason Montgomery (0-3, 10.80) expected to make the start against Naoyuki Uwasawa (0-1, 5.40). Uwasawa was signed out of Japan by the Rays and spent spring training with Tampa Bay until he was traded late in camp to Boston.

Tickets for Durham’s next home game on Tuesday, April 23rd against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and all 2024 Durham Bulls home contests are available and can be purchased online at DurhamBulls.com.