NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Walls and Yandy Díaz had two hits and two RBIs apiece and the Tampa Bay Rays remained hot with an 8-4 win over the New York Mets on Saturday.

Junior Caminero homered to lead off a five-run fourth inning for Tampa Bay, which has won eight of its last 11 games and leads the majors with a 17-6 record and 134 runs scored since May 20.

Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe each finished with two hits and an RBI.

Drew Rasmussen (6-4) won his fifth straight decision despite allowing seven hits and four runs in five innings. He struck out three. He had allowed two runs over 29 innings in his previous five starts.

Brandon Nimmo had three hits and two RBIs while Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio each homered for the Mets, who lost consecutive games for the first time since a three-game skid from May 18-20.

The series loss is the first for New York since it dropped two of three against the Boston Red Sox from May 19-21.

The Mets are one of three teams who have not been swept in a series this season, along with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds.

Tylor Megill (5-5) gave up six runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out five.

Key moment

Walls laid down a safety squeeze to score Jake Mangum with one out in the fourth and put the Rays ahead for good at 3-2.

Key stat

Megill has a 5.79 ERA in his last eight starts after opening the season with a 1.74 ERA in his first six starts. Overall in his five-season career, Megill has a 2.45 ERA in March and April and a 5.01 ERA thereafter.

Up next

The series ends Sunday when Mets RHP Griffin Canning (6-2, 3.22 ERA) starts against Rays RHP Shane Baz (5-3, 4.97 ERA)

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Charalambos Kostoulas Record Move Signals a New Era for Greek Football

Greek football just made global headlines—and not for reasons rooted in nostalgia or mythology. With the record-breaking sale of Charalambos Kostoulas to Brighton & Hove Albion for over €40 million, a definitive statement has been made: the days of undervaluing Greek talent are over, especially from the Olympiacos academy, overseen by Evangelos Marinakis.

From Local Starlet to Premier League Prospect

Kostoulas, just 18 years old, has quickly gone from an academy product to the most expensive Greek transfer in history. The move smashes the previous benchmark—Kostas Manolas’s €36 million switch from Roma to Napoli—and eclipses the recent Stefanos Tzimas transfer to Brighton as well.

This isn’t just about a number. This is about Evangelos Marinakis’s vision coming to life. The Olympiacos president’s long-term strategy—anchored in infrastructure, youth development, and global connectivity—is producing tangible results.

The Marinakis Blueprint: Build First, Then Sell Big

Olympiacos has invested more than €60 million into its training complex and academy structure over the last 15 years. This wasn’t scattershot spending. It was methodical, modern, and aligned with the European model that clubs like Benfica, Ajax, and Lyon have perfected—develop, elevate, and profit.

Those clubs have generated hundreds of millions via academy exports. Olympiacos is now positioning itself to be mentioned in the same breath. The club’s UEFA Youth League triumph in 2024 wasn’t a fluke—it was the signal that this pipeline is not only functioning but flourishing.

Greek Talent Is No Longer a Bargain Bin Find

What makes this deal even more compelling is Brighton’s intention. Kostoulas isn’t heading to the Premier League as a developmental loan project. He’s expected to contribute—and soon. That speaks volumes about how far the Olympiacos academy has come and how prepared these players are for the European elite.

The perception around Greek players has shifted. They’re no longer the last-minute options for mid-table clubs. They’re now scouted early, signed aggressively, and developed into serious first-team assets.

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The Next Wave Is Already in Motion

Kostoulas may be the headline today, but he won’t be the last.Top clubs are already tracking a new generation behind him. Giannis Mouzakitis has drawn interest from Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, while names like Tzolakis, Papakanellos, Pneumonidis, Liatsikouras, and Pleionis continue to climb the developmental ladder.

Each of these players is a product of a fully integrated system—one that is bearing fruit at just the right time.

A Turning Point for Olympiacos—and Greek Football

This record move is not an isolated event. It’s a culmination for the work Marinakis has put in developing elite Greek talent. A decade and a half of strategic investment is now paying off. For Olympiacos, it’s about joining Europe’s top developmental clubs. For Greek football, it’s about legitimacy, relevance, and a seat at the table.

The world is watching—and it’s about time.