ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Solid starting pitching, timely hitting and some much-needed relief from a struggling bullpen.
The last-place Tampa Bay Rays got all three for a change Monday and ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the reeling Los Angeles Angels.
"It feels good to get a win," manager Kevin Cash said. "Kind of difficult to come by these days."
Logan Morrison homered and drove in two runs for the Rays, who won for just the third time in 19 games. Matt Moore (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings, improving to 4-0 in his career against Los Angeles and handing the Angels their 12th loss in 14 games.
"Matt Moore set the tone. He's on a really good run. It's great to see," Cash said after the left-hander won consecutive starts for the first time since September 2013.
Tampa Bay's beleaguered bullpen got the job done, with Erasmo Ramirez getting four outs before Dana Eveland and rookie Ryan Garton combined for a scoreless ninth.
Garton got two outs for his first major league save.
"Obviously, the back end of the bullpen, we're asking some guys we know are not accustomed to doing things like that at the major league level," Cash said.
"Hopefully Ryan Garton has got a smile from ear to ear and doesn't wipe it off all night," the manager added. "I don't know if he envisioned closing out a ballgame today for us, but we felt he was a good option, especially with the fastball he's able to locate up in the zone."
During the 18-game stretch leading into Monday, Rays relievers compiled a 9.29 ERA and allowed at least one run 16 times. Tampa Bay was outscored 20-4 in innings seven through nine during a four-game sweep Detroit completed on Sunday.
"It was great to get the call and be able to help the team out this time," Garton said. "I felt good to be able to do my job."
Morrison hit a solo homer off starter Nick Tropeano and gave the Rays the lead for good with an RBI single off Fernando Salas (3-6). Brad Miller also had a solo homer for the last-place Rays, who won for just the third time in 19 games.
Jefry Marte homered off Moore before leaving in the sixth with a bruised left knee. The outfielder was hit by a pitch in the fourth but remained in the game long enough to go deep on the first pitch of the sixth to make it 2-all.
Andrelton Simmons drove in the other run for Los Angeles with a fourth-inning double.
Salas has taken the loss in four of his last eight appearances. The right-hander has a 9.72 ERA over his past 16 outings, compared to 2.01 through his first 22 appearances this year.
"Fernando just hasn't been as crisp. His command has been in the equation of why he's been struggling," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's a better pitcher than he's shown. There's no doubt about that."
Tropeano was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game to make his first major league start since May 29. The right-hander, who spent much of the past month on the disabled list because of shoulder tightness, allowed two runs and four hits in five innings, including solo homers to Miller in the third and Morrison in the fifth.
The Rays snapped a 2-all tie in the sixth against Salas, with Morrison delivering a go-ahead single and Steven Souza Jr. doubling into the left-field corner to drive in Morrison from first base to make it 4-2.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Scioscia said C Geovany Soto (right knee) could return during the four-game series with the Rays. Soto is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake.
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) will start a rehab assignment with Class A Charlotte on Wednesday. . Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome (right biceps tendinitis) felt fine after a bullpen session Sunday and didn't rule out being ready to return this week.
COMING AND GOING
Angels: To make room for Tropeano, LHP Jose Alvarez was optioned to Salt Lake to "find his release point," according to Scioscia. The move leaves Los Angeles without a left-hander in the bullpen. "In a perfect world you have one or two lefties that can go there and match up, but we're not there right now," Scioscia said.
Rays: CF Desmond Jennings was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. RHP Tyler Sturdevant was recalled from Triple-A Durham to help a struggling bullpen.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Tim Lincecum (1-2, 6.75 ERA) makes his second career start against Tampa Bay, which hasn't faced him since Aug. 3, 2013, when he was with San Francisco.
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-3, 3.91 ERA) tries to end a stretch of nine consecutive home starts without a win, the longest streak by a Rays pitcher to start a season since Scott Kazmir went 10 in 2007. Odorizzi is 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in three career starts against the Angels.
Los Angeles Angels
The last-place Tampa Bay Rays got all three for a change Monday and ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the reeling Los Angeles Angels.
"It feels good to get a win," manager Kevin Cash said. "Kind of difficult to come by these days."
Logan Morrison homered and drove in two runs for the Rays, who won for just the third time in 19 games. Matt Moore (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings, improving to 4-0 in his career against Los Angeles and handing the Angels their 12th loss in 14 games.
"Matt Moore set the tone. He's on a really good run. It's great to see," Cash said after the left-hander won consecutive starts for the first time since September 2013.
Tampa Bay's beleaguered bullpen got the job done, with Erasmo Ramirez getting four outs before Dana Eveland and rookie Ryan Garton combined for a scoreless ninth.
Garton got two outs for his first major league save.
"Obviously, the back end of the bullpen, we're asking some guys we know are not accustomed to doing things like that at the major league level," Cash said.
"Hopefully Ryan Garton has got a smile from ear to ear and doesn't wipe it off all night," the manager added. "I don't know if he envisioned closing out a ballgame today for us, but we felt he was a good option, especially with the fastball he's able to locate up in the zone."
During the 18-game stretch leading into Monday, Rays relievers compiled a 9.29 ERA and allowed at least one run 16 times. Tampa Bay was outscored 20-4 in innings seven through nine during a four-game sweep Detroit completed on Sunday.
"It was great to get the call and be able to help the team out this time," Garton said. "I felt good to be able to do my job."
Morrison hit a solo homer off starter Nick Tropeano and gave the Rays the lead for good with an RBI single off Fernando Salas (3-6). Brad Miller also had a solo homer for the last-place Rays, who won for just the third time in 19 games.
Jefry Marte homered off Moore before leaving in the sixth with a bruised left knee. The outfielder was hit by a pitch in the fourth but remained in the game long enough to go deep on the first pitch of the sixth to make it 2-all.
Andrelton Simmons drove in the other run for Los Angeles with a fourth-inning double.
Salas has taken the loss in four of his last eight appearances. The right-hander has a 9.72 ERA over his past 16 outings, compared to 2.01 through his first 22 appearances this year.
"Fernando just hasn't been as crisp. His command has been in the equation of why he's been struggling," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's a better pitcher than he's shown. There's no doubt about that."
Tropeano was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game to make his first major league start since May 29. The right-hander, who spent much of the past month on the disabled list because of shoulder tightness, allowed two runs and four hits in five innings, including solo homers to Miller in the third and Morrison in the fifth.
The Rays snapped a 2-all tie in the sixth against Salas, with Morrison delivering a go-ahead single and Steven Souza Jr. doubling into the left-field corner to drive in Morrison from first base to make it 4-2.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Scioscia said C Geovany Soto (right knee) could return during the four-game series with the Rays. Soto is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake.
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) will start a rehab assignment with Class A Charlotte on Wednesday. . Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome (right biceps tendinitis) felt fine after a bullpen session Sunday and didn't rule out being ready to return this week.
COMING AND GOING
Angels: To make room for Tropeano, LHP Jose Alvarez was optioned to Salt Lake to "find his release point," according to Scioscia. The move leaves Los Angeles without a left-hander in the bullpen. "In a perfect world you have one or two lefties that can go there and match up, but we're not there right now," Scioscia said.
Rays: CF Desmond Jennings was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. RHP Tyler Sturdevant was recalled from Triple-A Durham to help a struggling bullpen.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Tim Lincecum (1-2, 6.75 ERA) makes his second career start against Tampa Bay, which hasn't faced him since Aug. 3, 2013, when he was with San Francisco.
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-3, 3.91 ERA) tries to end a stretch of nine consecutive home starts without a win, the longest streak by a Rays pitcher to start a season since Scott Kazmir went 10 in 2007. Odorizzi is 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in three career starts against the Angels.
1:10PM,EDT,July 4,2016
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Moore pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Escobar safe at first on throwing error by pitcher Moore. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout grounded into fielder's choice to third, Escobar out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols popped out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Cron flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Forsythe flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Miller struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Morrison flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Matt Moore pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Giavotella lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Marte struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Bandy struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Guyer flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Dickerson flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Arcia struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Matt Moore pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Simmons popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Robinson lined out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Escobar doubled to deep right. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout reached on infield single to pitcher, Escobar to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Conger struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Forsythe grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Miller homered to right center (408 feet). | 0 | 1 |
| Longoria fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Matt Moore pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Cron grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Giavotella flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Marte hit by pitch. | 0 | 1 |
| Bandy walked, Marte to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Simmons doubled to deep left, Marte scored, Bandy to third. | 1 | 1 |
| Robinson flied out to center. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Morrison homered to right center (362 feet). | 1 | 2 |
| Guyer struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Souza Jr. grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Dickerson popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Matt Moore pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Escobar struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| Trout walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Pujols popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Cron singled to left center, Trout to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Giavotella flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Nick Tropeano pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Arcia walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Conger popped out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Forsythe popped out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Arcia caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Matt Moore pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Marte homered to left (406 feet). | 2 | 2 |
| Bandy doubled to deep left. | 2 | 2 |
| Simmons sacrificed to pitcher, Bandy to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Robinson grounded into fielder's choice to third, Bandy out at home, Robinson to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Escobar grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Fernando Salas pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Nava in left field. | 2 | 2 |
| Salas relieved Tropeano. | 2 | 2 |
| Miller singled to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Longoria grounded out to first, Miller to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Morrison singled to left center, Miller scored. | 2 | 3 |
| Guyer flied out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Souza Jr. doubled to left, Morrison scored, Souza Jr. to third advancing on throw. | 2 | 4 |
| Dickerson walked. | 2 | 4 |
| Arcia flied out to right. | 2 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Matt Moore pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Trout lined out to center. | 2 | 4 |
| Pujols fouled out to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Ramírez relieved Moore. | 2 | 4 |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Ramírez relieved Salas. | 2 | 4 |
| Conger grounded out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| Forsythe struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Miller grounded out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Giavotella singled to right. | 2 | 4 |
| Giavotella to second on passed ball by Conger. | 2 | 4 |
| Nava flied out to left. | 2 | 4 |
| Bandy struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Simmons grounded out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jhoulys Chacin pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TB |
| Chacín relieved Ramírez. | 2 | 4 |
| Longoria flied out to right. | 2 | 4 |
| Morrison flied out to left. | 2 | 4 |
| Guyer lined out to third. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Dana Eveland pitching for Tampa Bay | LAA | TB |
| Eveland relieved Ramírez. | 2 | 4 |
| Robinson struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Garton relieved Eveland. | 2 | 4 |
| Escobar walked. | 2 | 4 |
| Trout struck out looking. | 2 | 4 |
| Escobar to second on fielder's indifference. | 2 | 4 |
| Pujols reached on infield single to third, Escobar to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Petit ran for Pujols. | 2 | 4 |
| Cron fouled out to first. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Los Angeles Angels
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escobar 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | .317 | .367 | .418 |
| Trout CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | .324 | .426 | .569 |
| Pujols DH | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | .251 | .327 | .431 |
Petit PR
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .278 | .323 | .435 |
| Cron 1B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | .280 | .332 | .459 |
| Giavotella 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .273 | .294 | .408 |
| Marte LF | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .234 | .284 | .436 |
Nava LF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .225 | .287 | .300 |
| Bandy C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17 | .259 | .311 | .426 |
| Simmons SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .251 | .277 | .324 |
| Robinson RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | .210 | .319 | .258 |
| Totals | 35 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 154 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Escobar (20, Moore); Simmons (10, Moore); Bandy (3, Moore) HR: Marte (5, 6th inning off Moore 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Simmons (14), Marte (13) S: Simmons 2-out RBI: Simmons Angels RISP: 3-12 (Robinson 0-2, Bandy 0-1, Cron 0-1, Escobar 0-1, Simmons 1-2, Trout 1-1, Pujols 1-2, Nava 0-1, Giavotella 0-1) Team LOB: 11 | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Attendance | 14,532 (46.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:12 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Dana DeMuth, First Base - Ed Hickox, Second Base - Ben May, Third Base - Mike Estabrook |
No comments:
Post a Comment