ANAHEIM, Calif. -- C.J. Cron isn't necessarily happy about his reduced role with the Los Angeles Angels this season. But when playing time does come, he's determined to make the most of it.
Cron did just that Sunday as a pinch hitter, connecting for a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and powering the Angels to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
"It's nothing I can control, so I'm just going to go out there and do whatever I can to help the team," Cron said. "However many at-bats it is per week, I'm going to be ready for them and thankfully today I was able to help out a little bit."
It was 2-all when Cron swung at the first pitch he saw from Adam Kolarek and sent it into the right field seats. Cron had a simple mindset to keep Kolarek, who entered after Andrelton Simmons singled with one out off Jumbo Diaz (1-4), from getting settled.
"Be ready to hit," Cron said. "It's been a little bit since I've had an at-bat and didn't want to give him a pitch there. Wanted to be aggressive because that's the kind of hitter I am and fortunately it was a good pitch to him and put a good swing on it."
Cron was making just his fourth appearances for the Angels this month, but came through with the club's first pinch-homer since Jefry Marte on June 9, 2016.
David Hernandez (1-0) got rewarded for one inning of scoreless relief as the Angels avoided a three-game sweep, but only after escaping a jam in the ninth to hold off the Rays.
Trailing 4-2, the Rays scored once in the ninth and loaded the bases with one out. Bud Norris got Tim Beckham to ground into a double play for his 14th save, ending the Rays' four-game winning streak.
Evan Longoria doubled off Norris and Logan Morrison singled. Steven Souza Jr. hit an RBI single and a walk loaded the bases for Beckham, who promptly hit it to Simmons. Cron said the game-ending 6-4-3 double play was a given when it ended up with the sure-handed defender.
"Simmons makes every play, so I knew we were going to get them there," Cron said.
Albert Pujols put the Angels ahead in the fifth with an RBI single. Martin Maldonado squeezed home another run in the sixth, with Simmons scoring just ahead of catcher Jesus Sucre's tag.
Morrison hit his 26th homer, a two-run drive off Parker Bridwell that tied it in the seventh. Bridwell struck out eight and allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Chris Archer gave up two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. The Rays missed a chance to complete their first road series sweep since June 2016.
"That stunk, but really happy with the way the guys responded there in the ninth," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We just came up a little bit short."
JUNIOR JERED?
When Bridwell first stepped onto the mound, Cash was reminded of Jered Weaver. Outside of one pitch to Morrison that Bridwell said just broke a bit too much over the plate, he delivered a performance more than reminiscent of the long-time Angels ace.
"Real thin and you could tell he had some deception," Cash said. "We couldn't figure out their pitcher. They couldn't quite figure him out until LoMo came up with the big two-run homer to tie it."
While Angels manager Mike Scioscia pointed out the flaws in Cash's comparison, noting different styles in delivery and approach, Bridwell is starting to put together outings to invite such connections. He has gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts, giving some relief to the overworked bullpen. Bridwell didn't give up a run in last start before the All-Star break, though the logistics of roster management resulted in a busy travel schedule.
Bridwell was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after picking up the win against Minnesota to free up a roster spot, joining the minor league affiliate for a road series in El Paso, Texas before returning to Utah for a regular bullpen session. After taking a couple days off during the All-Star Game, Bridwell returned to Salt Lake for another workout to prepare to rejoin the Angels.
"I understood just cause they didn't need five starters. It's always better when you can carry people you can use," Bridwell said of the juggling.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: C Wilson Ramos could return to action Monday after missing the last two games with a tweaked hamstring.
Angels: 2B Danny Espinosa was designated for assignment after hitting .162 in 77 games this season. Nick Franklin got the start at 2B against the Rays, going 1 for 3 with a walk, and is expected to platoon with Cliff Pennington going forward.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (5-4, 4.63 ERA) spent the All-Star break trying to address his inconsistent mechanics and will get to test those adjustments when the Rays open a three-game series at Oakland on Monday.
Angels: RHP Jesse Chavez (5-10, 4.99) will try to break a three-game losing streak when the Angels open a two-game series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Chavez has won just one of his last nine starts and hasn't picked up a victory at home since May 15.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Cron did just that Sunday as a pinch hitter, connecting for a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and powering the Angels to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
"It's nothing I can control, so I'm just going to go out there and do whatever I can to help the team," Cron said. "However many at-bats it is per week, I'm going to be ready for them and thankfully today I was able to help out a little bit."
It was 2-all when Cron swung at the first pitch he saw from Adam Kolarek and sent it into the right field seats. Cron had a simple mindset to keep Kolarek, who entered after Andrelton Simmons singled with one out off Jumbo Diaz (1-4), from getting settled.
"Be ready to hit," Cron said. "It's been a little bit since I've had an at-bat and didn't want to give him a pitch there. Wanted to be aggressive because that's the kind of hitter I am and fortunately it was a good pitch to him and put a good swing on it."
Cron was making just his fourth appearances for the Angels this month, but came through with the club's first pinch-homer since Jefry Marte on June 9, 2016.
David Hernandez (1-0) got rewarded for one inning of scoreless relief as the Angels avoided a three-game sweep, but only after escaping a jam in the ninth to hold off the Rays.
Trailing 4-2, the Rays scored once in the ninth and loaded the bases with one out. Bud Norris got Tim Beckham to ground into a double play for his 14th save, ending the Rays' four-game winning streak.
Evan Longoria doubled off Norris and Logan Morrison singled. Steven Souza Jr. hit an RBI single and a walk loaded the bases for Beckham, who promptly hit it to Simmons. Cron said the game-ending 6-4-3 double play was a given when it ended up with the sure-handed defender.
"Simmons makes every play, so I knew we were going to get them there," Cron said.
Albert Pujols put the Angels ahead in the fifth with an RBI single. Martin Maldonado squeezed home another run in the sixth, with Simmons scoring just ahead of catcher Jesus Sucre's tag.
Morrison hit his 26th homer, a two-run drive off Parker Bridwell that tied it in the seventh. Bridwell struck out eight and allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Chris Archer gave up two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. The Rays missed a chance to complete their first road series sweep since June 2016.
"That stunk, but really happy with the way the guys responded there in the ninth," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We just came up a little bit short."
JUNIOR JERED?
When Bridwell first stepped onto the mound, Cash was reminded of Jered Weaver. Outside of one pitch to Morrison that Bridwell said just broke a bit too much over the plate, he delivered a performance more than reminiscent of the long-time Angels ace.
"Real thin and you could tell he had some deception," Cash said. "We couldn't figure out their pitcher. They couldn't quite figure him out until LoMo came up with the big two-run homer to tie it."
While Angels manager Mike Scioscia pointed out the flaws in Cash's comparison, noting different styles in delivery and approach, Bridwell is starting to put together outings to invite such connections. He has gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts, giving some relief to the overworked bullpen. Bridwell didn't give up a run in last start before the All-Star break, though the logistics of roster management resulted in a busy travel schedule.
Bridwell was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after picking up the win against Minnesota to free up a roster spot, joining the minor league affiliate for a road series in El Paso, Texas before returning to Utah for a regular bullpen session. After taking a couple days off during the All-Star Game, Bridwell returned to Salt Lake for another workout to prepare to rejoin the Angels.
"I understood just cause they didn't need five starters. It's always better when you can carry people you can use," Bridwell said of the juggling.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: C Wilson Ramos could return to action Monday after missing the last two games with a tweaked hamstring.
Angels: 2B Danny Espinosa was designated for assignment after hitting .162 in 77 games this season. Nick Franklin got the start at 2B against the Rays, going 1 for 3 with a walk, and is expected to platoon with Cliff Pennington going forward.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (5-4, 4.63 ERA) spent the All-Star break trying to address his inconsistent mechanics and will get to test those adjustments when the Rays open a three-game series at Oakland on Monday.
Angels: RHP Jesse Chavez (5-10, 4.99) will try to break a three-game losing streak when the Angels open a two-game series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Chavez has won just one of his last nine starts and hasn't picked up a victory at home since May 15.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Tampa Bay - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Smith grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Dickerson grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Morrison struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Maybin grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout singled to left, Calhoun to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Escobar walked, Calhoun to third, Trout to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Simmons struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Souza Jr. singled to left, Souza Jr. out stretching at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Miller fouled out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Beckham struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Valbuena walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Maldonado struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Franklin flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Maybin struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Hechavarria singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Sucre struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Smith grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Hechavarria out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Smith picked off first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Calhoun flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Dickerson lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Morrison grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Escobar singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Simmons singled to left, Escobar to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Valbuena grounded into double play, third to short to first, Simmons out at second, Escobar to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Maldonado struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Souza Jr. lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Miller struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Beckham singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Hechavarria struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Franklin walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Maybin walked, Franklin to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols singled to right, Franklin scored, Maybin to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Sucre grounded out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| Smith bunt grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 1 |
| Dickerson struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Simmons doubled to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Valbuena flied out to right, Simmons to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Maldonado sacrificed into fielder's choice to pitcher, Simmons scored. | 0 | 2 |
| Franklin flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Maybin struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Longoria singled to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Morrison homered to right (429 feet), Longoria scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Miller walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Parker relieved Bridwell. | 2 | 2 |
| Miller caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| Beckham struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Tommy Hunter pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Hunter relieved Archer. | 2 | 2 |
| Calhoun singled to left, Calhoun out stretching at second. | 2 | 2 |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Pujols grounded out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| David Hernandez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Hernandez relieved Parker. | 2 | 2 |
| Hechavarria flied out to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Sucre struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Smith grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jumbo Diaz pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Díaz relieved Hunter. | 2 | 2 |
| Escobar lined out to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Simmons singled to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Kolarek relieved Díaz. | 2 | 2 |
| Cron hit for Valbuena. | 2 | 2 |
| Cron homered to right (359 feet), Simmons scored. | 2 | 4 |
| Maldonado grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 4 |
| Franklin grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Bud Norris pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Cron at first base. | 2 | 4 |
| Norris relieved Hernandez. | 2 | 4 |
| Dickerson struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Longoria doubled to right. | 2 | 4 |
| Morrison singled to right center, Longoria to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Bourjos ran for Morrison. | 2 | 4 |
| Souza Jr. singled to center, Longoria scored, Bourjos to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Miller walked, Bourjos to third, Souza Jr. to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Beckham grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Miller out at second. | 3 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay Rays | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Smith CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .311 | .381 | .394 |
| Dickerson LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .312 | .353 | .545 |
| Longoria 3B | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .267 | .322 | .444 |
| Morrison 1B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .257 | .365 | .571 |
Bourjos PR
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .242 | .294 | .432 |
| Souza Jr. RF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .271 | .370 | .502 |
| Miller DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 20 | .201 | .347 | .327 |
| Beckham 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .274 | .326 | .431 |
| Hechavarria SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .229 | .240 | .250 |
| Sucre C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .248 | .267 | .389 |
| Totals | 32 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 131 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Longoria (24, Norris) HR: Morrison (26, 7th inning off Bridwell 1 on, 0 Out) RBI: Morrison 2 (61), Souza Jr. (58) GIDP: Beckham Rays RISP: 2-3 (Souza Jr. 1-1, Morrison 1-1, Beckham 0-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING CS: Miller (2, 2nd base by Parker/Maldonado) Picked Off: Smith (1st base by Bridwell) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Longoria-Hechavarria-Morrison). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 36,178 (79.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:03 |
| Weather | 83 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 11 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Gerry Davis, First Base - Tony Randazzo, Second Base - Rob Drake, Third Base - Pat Hoberg |
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