ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Back on June 3, Alex Cobb
looked like a pitcher whose season was in trouble. He had just given up
a career-high nine earned runs to fall to 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA.
Six weeks later, the Tampa Bay Rays' right-hander has become an entirely new pitcher.
Cobb continued his turnaround on a warm Saturday night, holding the Los Angeles Angels to one run in the Rays' 6-3 victory.
He did not allow a run until Luis Valbuena hit a solo home run in the sixth, the first of two homers for him.
Cobb (8-6) allowed six hits and three walks in his 7 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts. Since that June 3 start against the Baltimore Orioles, he has gone 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in seven starts, going at least six innings in each.
"We had a bunch of production kind of spread out through the lineup, but the story is still is really how Alex pitched," said Rays manager Kevin Cash.
Helped by drives hit almost directly at fielders, Cobb dominated early before falling behind in the count in his later innings.
"Fortunately when it did get to those counts, I was able to make some pitches or they hit a line drive at somebody," Cobb said. "It's not something that's a formula for success going down the road, but was able to get by with it tonight."
He was supported by a 14-hit attack. Logan Morrison provided the key hit with a two-run homer in the third for a 3-0 lead. It was his 25th home run. Steven Souza Jr. added a solo homer in the eighth to give him a career-high 18 home runs.
The Angels' JC Ramirez (8-8) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out five.
"JC gave up a bunch of hits early but made some pitches to minimize the damage," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "I thought JC's stuff was OK, not bad, but had trouble at times making pitches when he had to."
ANGELS' OFFENSIVE WOES
The Angels are 28th in baseball in on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.691) and Scioscia is growing weary of his team's lack of offensive production.
"We have to get a lot more continuity offensively," Scioscia said. "We need to pressure these teams every inning."
TAMPA DEFENSE
The Rays did not commit an error and backed Cobb up with some timely defensive plays. Cobb said since he was pitching to contact, it was highly appreciated.
"It's at the caliber right now that we're going to need it to be at to get to where we want to be in October and into the playoffs," he said. "I think it's amongst the best in baseball right now. It's been fun to watch the progression."
WRONG DIRECTION
The Angels have lost four of their last five games to fall four games under .500 (45-49) for the first time this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: Catcher Wilson Ramos tweaked his right hamstring running the bases in the 10th inning Friday and was not in the lineup. Tampa would like to rest him for a couple of days but said he was available. ... Shortstop Tim Beckham (left ankle sprain) was activated from the disabled list after the game optioned infielder Taylor Featherston back to triple-A.
Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards, who hasn't pitched since his season debut April 5 because of a biceps injury, has played catch the past two days. ... Right-hander Nick Tropeano is scheduled to throw off a mound Monday for the first time since his Tommy John surgery last August.
UP NEXT
Rays: Right-hander Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95 ERA) makes his first start since the All-Star Game. Archer is 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA in six career starts against the Angels and has won the last four.
Angels: Are scheduled to recall right-hander Parker Bridwell (3-1, 3.42) to start against the Rays on Sunday. He was optioned back to Triple-A prior to the break so the Angels could add another reliever. He threw six scoreless innings against the Twins in his last start July 5.
Six weeks later, the Tampa Bay Rays' right-hander has become an entirely new pitcher.
Cobb continued his turnaround on a warm Saturday night, holding the Los Angeles Angels to one run in the Rays' 6-3 victory.
He did not allow a run until Luis Valbuena hit a solo home run in the sixth, the first of two homers for him.
Cobb (8-6) allowed six hits and three walks in his 7 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts. Since that June 3 start against the Baltimore Orioles, he has gone 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in seven starts, going at least six innings in each.
"We had a bunch of production kind of spread out through the lineup, but the story is still is really how Alex pitched," said Rays manager Kevin Cash.
Helped by drives hit almost directly at fielders, Cobb dominated early before falling behind in the count in his later innings.
"Fortunately when it did get to those counts, I was able to make some pitches or they hit a line drive at somebody," Cobb said. "It's not something that's a formula for success going down the road, but was able to get by with it tonight."
He was supported by a 14-hit attack. Logan Morrison provided the key hit with a two-run homer in the third for a 3-0 lead. It was his 25th home run. Steven Souza Jr. added a solo homer in the eighth to give him a career-high 18 home runs.
The Angels' JC Ramirez (8-8) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out five.
"JC gave up a bunch of hits early but made some pitches to minimize the damage," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "I thought JC's stuff was OK, not bad, but had trouble at times making pitches when he had to."
ANGELS' OFFENSIVE WOES
The Angels are 28th in baseball in on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.691) and Scioscia is growing weary of his team's lack of offensive production.
"We have to get a lot more continuity offensively," Scioscia said. "We need to pressure these teams every inning."
TAMPA DEFENSE
The Rays did not commit an error and backed Cobb up with some timely defensive plays. Cobb said since he was pitching to contact, it was highly appreciated.
"It's at the caliber right now that we're going to need it to be at to get to where we want to be in October and into the playoffs," he said. "I think it's amongst the best in baseball right now. It's been fun to watch the progression."
WRONG DIRECTION
The Angels have lost four of their last five games to fall four games under .500 (45-49) for the first time this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: Catcher Wilson Ramos tweaked his right hamstring running the bases in the 10th inning Friday and was not in the lineup. Tampa would like to rest him for a couple of days but said he was available. ... Shortstop Tim Beckham (left ankle sprain) was activated from the disabled list after the game optioned infielder Taylor Featherston back to triple-A.
Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards, who hasn't pitched since his season debut April 5 because of a biceps injury, has played catch the past two days. ... Right-hander Nick Tropeano is scheduled to throw off a mound Monday for the first time since his Tommy John surgery last August.
UP NEXT
Rays: Right-hander Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95 ERA) makes his first start since the All-Star Game. Archer is 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA in six career starts against the Angels and has won the last four.
Angels: Are scheduled to recall right-hander Parker Bridwell (3-1, 3.42) to start against the Rays on Sunday. He was optioned back to Triple-A prior to the break so the Angels could add another reliever. He threw six scoreless innings against the Twins in his last start July 5.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Tampa Bay - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Smith grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Dickerson singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria singled to center, Dickerson to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Morrison struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Maybin grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Miller struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Hechavarria singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Peterson singled to right, Hechavarria to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Hechavarria to third, Peterson to second on wild pitch by Ramírez. | 0 | 0 |
| Sucre grounded out to shortstop, Hechavarria scored, Peterson to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Smith grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Pujols singled to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Escobar singled to left, Pujols to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Simmons struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Valbuena grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Escobar out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Dickerson doubled to deep right. | 1 | 0 |
| Longoria lined out to right, Dickerson to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Morrison homered to center (416 feet), Dickerson scored. | 3 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Miller grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Maldonado popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Pennington walked. | 3 | 0 |
| Pennington picked off first. | 3 | 0 |
| Maybin struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Hechavarria grounded out to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Peterson doubled to shallow left. | 3 | 0 |
| Sucre singled to right center, Peterson scored. | 4 | 0 |
| Smith struck out swinging. | 4 | 0 |
| Dickerson struck out swinging. | 4 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 4 | 0 |
| Trout singled to left. | 4 | 0 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 4 | 0 |
| Escobar flied out to left. | 4 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Longoria grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 0 |
| Morrison walked. | 4 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. lined into double play, pitcher to first, Morrison out at first. | 4 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Simmons lined out to left. | 4 | 0 |
| Valbuena lined out to left. | 4 | 0 |
| Maldonado grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Miller grounded out to third. | 4 | 0 |
| Hechavarria grounded out to third. | 4 | 0 |
| Peterson flied out to center. | 4 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Pennington struck out swinging. | 4 | 0 |
| Maybin lined out to shortstop. | 4 | 0 |
| Calhoun walked. | 4 | 0 |
| Trout reached on infield single to shortstop, Calhoun to second. | 4 | 0 |
| Pujols grounded into fielder's choice to third, Calhoun out at third, Trout to second. | 4 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Yusmeiro Petit pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Petit relieved Ramírez. | 4 | 0 |
| Sucre popped out to shortstop. | 4 | 0 |
| Smith singled to right. | 4 | 0 |
| Smith stole second. | 4 | 0 |
| Dickerson singled to deep center, Smith to third. | 4 | 0 |
| Longoria hit sacrifice fly to center, Smith scored. | 5 | 0 |
| Dickerson stole second. | 5 | 0 |
| Morrison popped out to second. | 5 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Escobar lined out to center. | 5 | 0 |
| Simmons lined out to center. | 5 | 0 |
| Valbuena homered to center (397 feet). | 5 | 1 |
| Maldonado grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Keynan Middleton pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Middleton relieved Petit. | 5 | 1 |
| Souza Jr. homered to center (433 feet). | 6 | 1 |
| Miller grounded out to second. | 6 | 1 |
| Hechavarria grounded out to second. | 6 | 1 |
| Peterson reached on infield single to shortstop. | 6 | 1 |
| Sucre singled to center, Peterson to second. | 6 | 1 |
| Smith flied out to left. | 6 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Pennington struck out swinging. | 6 | 1 |
| Maybin lined out to left. | 6 | 1 |
| Calhoun hit a ground rule double to left. | 6 | 1 |
| Trout walked. | 6 | 1 |
| Boxberger relieved Cobb. | 6 | 1 |
| Pujols grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Trout out at second. | 6 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Álvarez relieved Middleton. | 6 | 1 |
| Dickerson doubled to right center. | 6 | 1 |
| Longoria struck out swinging. | 6 | 1 |
| Morrison struck out looking. | 6 | 1 |
| Souza Jr. intentionally walked. | 6 | 1 |
| Miller grounded out to second. | 6 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jumbo Diaz pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Díaz relieved Boxberger. | 6 | 1 |
| Escobar reached on infield single to third. | 6 | 1 |
| Simmons struck out swinging. | 6 | 1 |
| Valbuena homered to right (395 feet), Escobar scored. | 6 | 3 |
| Maldonado flied out to left. | 6 | 3 |
| Pennington struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay Rays | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Smith CF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | .320 | .392 | .406 |
| Dickerson DH | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | .315 | .357 | .551 |
| Longoria 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .261 | .317 | .438 |
| Morrison 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 31 | .254 | .363 | .562 |
| Souza Jr. RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | .268 | .369 | .502 |
| Miller 2B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .204 | .344 | .331 |
| Hechavarria SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .222 | .234 | .244 |
| Peterson LF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .277 | .342 | .446 |
| Sucre C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .255 | .274 | .400 |
| Totals | 39 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 141 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Dickerson 2 (26, Ramírez, Álvarez); Peterson (5, Ramírez) HR: Morrison (25, 3rd inning off Ramírez 1 on, 1 Out); Souza Jr. (18, 8th inning off Middleton 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Sucre 2 (23), Morrison 2 (59), Longoria (55), Souza Jr. (57) SF: Longoria Rays RISP: 3-13 (Miller 0-1, Dickerson 1-1, Souza Jr. 0-1, Smith 0-2, Longoria 0-2, Morrison 1-4, Sucre 1-2) Team LOB: 9 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Smith (12, 2nd base off Petit/Maldonado); Dickerson (3, 2nd base off Petit/Maldonado) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Miller-Hechavarria-Morrison). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 38,515 (84.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:00 |
| Weather | 79 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 8 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Pat Hoberg, First Base - Gerry Davis, Second Base - Tony Randazzo, Third Base - Rob Drake |
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