The Tampa Bay Rays headed back home Sunday night with lots of reasons for a happy flight.

The 4-2 win completed a sweep of the San Diego Padres and a 5-1 road trip; extended the Rays’ winning streak to five, their longest in nearly a year; and got them back to .500 for the first time since mid-April.

Zack Littell, after deserving better in several outings on the way to an 0-5 start, earned his first win, allowing the two runs over five innings.

Rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson continued his impressive emergence as a catalyst, sparking three two-out rallies. The Rays are 6-2 since his April 19 debut.

And several others lent a hand, as Taylor Walls hit his first homer of the season, Junior Caminero made a hit-robbing catch in the ninth, and Edwin Uceta and Pete Fairbanks teamed to get the final seven outs.

Manager Kevin Cash was impressed with the turnaround after the Rays lost five of their last six of a disappointing 5-8 homestand.

“It’s been important, because we left home and I think we were all frustrated a little bit with the way that we performed and the lack of wins that we got while we were there,” Cash told reporters at Petco Park.

“I’m really, really impressed with the way the guys kind of rebounded from getting on the plane, kind of flushing what took place in Tampa, and won two series against two really good teams.”

Littell was effective and efficient, most notably in a six-pitch fourth inning. He allowed just five singles and one walk in throwing 73 pitches total.

“I feel good,” Littell said. “Just continued to build on what we did previous, and (Sunday) we kind of saw the culmination of everything slowly coming together.

“I saw a tick up in the stuff overall. The command was a lot better. I thought the tempo and rhythm I was able to work at throughout the game was a lot better. So, just excited to keep going.“

Plus, having gotten the lowest run support among qualified starters, it was nice to get a little help from his friends.

Down 1-0, the Rays got two runs in the third.

The first came in an unexpected way, a homer to right field by Walls, who first got the silent treatment in the dugout then was mobbed by his teammates. It was his first homer since Sept. 7, 2024, which was his only one since Sept. 11, 2023, the last of the eight he hit that season.

“We were all pumped for Wallsy,” Cash said.

Simpson sparked the other run, drawing a two-out walk after being down in the count 1-2, then stealing second and scoring on a single by Brandon Lowe.

After the Padres evened the score in their half of the third, Simpson got the Rays going with another two-out rally,

He singled off the glove of Machado at third, went first-to-third on Lowe’s single to right, then raced home on a wild pitch by San Diego starter Randy Vasquez.

Simpson delivered an insurance run in the ninth. New addition Travis Jankowski led off with a double, and with two outs Simpson singled him in.

Cash and others have raved about how much Simpson has done.

“Quite the impact,” Cash said Sunday.

The 24-year-old said he truly is just happy to help.

“Every win matters,” he said. “So, I’m just glad I’m able to contribute.”

Quick starters

Chandler Simpson has hits in each of his first eight games; only three Rays had more to start their career:

— Rocco Baldelli, 11, 2003

— Brent Abernathy, 10, 2002

— Akinori Iwamura, 9, 2007

Monday: Off

Next game: 7:05 p.m. ET Tuesday, vs. Royals, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa

Probable pitchers: Rays, RH Taj Bradley (2-1, 5.08); Royals, RH Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 3.90)

On deck

Wednesday: vs. Royals, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Drew Rasmussen (1-1, 2.10); Royals, TBA

Thursday: vs. Royals, 1:10 p.m. Rays, RH Shane Baz (3-0, 2.45); Royals, RH Seth Lugo (2-3, 3.08)

Friday: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Ryan Pepiot (2-3, 4.24); Yankees, TBA

Saturday: at Yankees, 1:05 p.m. Rays. RH Zack Littell (1-5, 5.03); Yankees, TBA

Sunday: at Yankees, 1:35 p.m. Rays RH Taj Bradley (2-1, 5.08); Yankees, TBA

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