Tampa Bay Rays pitchers Casey Legumina and Ian Seymour combine for seven no-hit innings
The Tampa Bay Rays pitching staff has completed seven no-hit innings against the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Starter Casey Legumina and reliever Ian Seymour combined to retire the first 16 batters they faced, keeping the Royals hitless and scoreless with a 7-0 lead as the game moved into the eighth inning.
The pursuit of history began with Casey Legumina acting as an “opener” for the scheduled bullpen game. He retired all five batters he faced across 1 1/3 innings, maintaining a 3.45 ERA for the season.
St. Petersburg crowd witnesses pursuit of franchise history
Ian Seymour took over in the second inning, striking out six batters and carrying the no-hit bid into the seventh, showcasing the depth of a Rays rotation that entered the day with a MLB-best 3.03 collective ERA.
Tampa Bay entered this series finale seeking its first perfect game and only its second no-hitter in franchise history. The bid for perfection was preserved in the fifth inning by a defensive gem from left fielder Chandler Simpson. Simpson chased down a fly ball off the bat of Salvador Perez, making a running catch near the foul pole to keep the bases empty.
The perfect game ended in the top of the sixth when Starling Marte drew a one-out walk on a full count. Despite this first baserunner, Ian Seymour maintained the no-hitter by retiring Tyler Tolbert and Carter Jensen to end the frame.
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Unlike the heavyweight tension of a championship fight, which can turn on a single punch, the Rays have remained focused on efficiency, allowing only the lone walk through seven full innings.
The Rays have previously been no-hit six times, including a 2022 loss to Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels. However, the club’s only successful no-hitter came from Matt Garza on July 26, 2010.
If the bullpen can maintain the current pace, this would mark the 23rd combined no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, following a recent combined effort by the Houston Astros in May 2026.
Junior Caminero home runs provide comfortable seven-run cushion
While the pitching staff dominated, the Rays’ offense broke out of a power slump to provide significant run support. Junior Caminero hit a pair of home runs, bringing his season total to 16. This offensive surge is a departure for a Tampa Bay team that entered the contest with 63 home runs, the fewest in the league, and a slugging percentage of .382.
Junior Caminero’s performance was supported by veteran Yandy Diaz, who entered the game batting .332 with 94 hits. The pair helped chase Kansas City starter Seth Lugo, who struggled to contain the Rays’ lineup. The 7-0 lead has allowed manager Kevin Cash to manage his bullpen with the luxury of a wide margin, even as the pressure of the hitless column continues to build.
The Kansas City Royals have faced significant hurdles in this series finale, notably the absence of star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. from the starting lineup. Witt Jr., who has 88 hits and 28 stolen bases this year, is currently listed as day-to-day with a knee issue.
His absence is a blow to a team already struggling on the road, where they hold a 15-25 record as they sit fifth in the American League Central. This absence is as impactful as when Gleyber Torres admitted his injury absence was affecting his team’s momentum earlier this season.
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As the game enters the eighth inning, historical data suggests the Royals are facing a rare drought. The last time Kansas City was no-hit was in May 2008 by Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox.
Conversely, the Rays are looking to rebound in the standings; they began the day at 44-33, trailing in the AL East, and a victory today would secure a split of this four-game set.
The use of a bullpen game today highlights the Rays’ organizational philosophy. By using Casey Legumina as an opener to neutralize the top of the order before turning to Ian Seymour, Tampa Bay has successfully limited hard contact. The Royals’ Michael Massey and Salvador Perez have struggled to find timing against the fluctuating speeds delivered by the St. Petersburg staff.
Regardless of the final three outs, the performance reinforces the Rays’ standing as a pitching powerhouse in 2026. The team’s efficiency on the mound continues to be their primary tool for competing against higher-payroll rivals in the division. Fans can follow the final stages of the game via ROYL, Rays.TV, or the MLB Network.