The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the World Series, and Junior Caminero left his mark on the American League Championship Series with a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
Caminero has become known for home run celebrations and exciting trots around the bases. Monday night was no different. He had a 38.66-second home run trot after hitting a home run off a Cade Smith Splitter.
It was the first home run hit off Smith's splitter in his career, and Caminero made sure it was going to be remembered for years by Rays fans.
"It's not my style but I guess if I don’t like it, I shouldn’t give up home runs,” Smith told ESPN's Jesse Rogers after the loss.
Smith took a very professional approach to Caminero's controversial home run trot. Every fan knew coming into the postseason that if Caminero got a hold of one, it would be a memorable trip around the bases.
It was his first home run of the postseason, and it gave his team a four-run lead in a close-out game. Now he and the Rays will have to find a way to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, who just took down the Los Angeles Dodgers in a sweep.
Caminero is one of the best players in baseball, and now he will get a chance to show it on the biggest stage.