Rays 4, Angels 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Evan Longoria hit the go-ahead home run in the third inning and the Tampa Bay Rays got four scoreless innings of one-hit relief, edging the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 on Wednesday at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (32-28) bounced back nicely from an 8-2 loss Tuesday, taking advantage of a mental error in the second inning and playing flawless defense, one night after a season-high three errors. Tampa Bay left-hander Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his first save of the season. Los Angeles (29-30) had starter Jered Weaver last into the eighth inning, but he gave up eight hits along the way.
Tampa Bay, now 1 1/2 games back of the Yankees in the American League East, had exactly one hit from each of the top eight hitters in their batting order until there were two outs in the eighth, when shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera brought in an insurance run with a ground-rule double. The Angels' three through six hitters in the lineup went a combined 0-for-15.
Four Rays' relievers combined to give two hits in four scoreless innings.
The two teams wrap up the three-game series on Thursday, with the Rays playing host to the White Sox next and the Angels returning home to face the Athletics.
Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, who had been out of the starting lineup for three games, came back in a big way with a solo home run (his sixth on the year) in the third inning for a 3-2 lead.
Tampa Bay jumped ahead in the second inning, getting one run on an RBI single by center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, scoring shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who had also singled. Kiermaier played a role in an unexpected second run -- with two outs and runners at second and third, outfielder Joey Butler hit a ground ball to third base, where the Angels' Kyle Kubitza was making his major-league debut.
Instead of taking the force play at first base, Kubitza saw Kiermaier approaching between second and third and opted to get him in a rundown. But Rays first baseman Nick Franklin was able to score from third before the tag could be applied, allowing the run to count for a 2-0 lead.
Los Angeles answered with two runs in the third, getting RBI singles from shortstop Erick Aybar and center fielder Mike Trout to tie the game at 2-2.
Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez lasted only five innings, but left with a 3-2 lead after holding the Angels to five hits, striking out three. Angels starter Jered Weaver, who came in 4-0 all-time at Tropicana Field with a 2.93 career ERA, threw 76 pitches in the first five innings.
NOTES: It was a short-lived stay with the Angels for OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was designated for assignment just two weeks after he was acquired for cash considerations from the Mets. He went 3-for-22 (.136) in his time with Los Angeles, this after hitting .079 with the Mets. ... To take his spot on the 25-man roster, the Angels promoted 24-year-old Kyle Kubitza, who made his major-league debut starting at third base and batting eighth. Kubitza was hitting .287 with 21 doubles and 28 RBIs for Triple-A Salt Lake. He was acquired from the Braves in January. ... The Rays optioned LHP Enny Romero to Triple-A Durham after Tuesday' s game, in which he gave up six hits and three runs in 2 1/3 innings. RHP Preston Guilmet was recalled for bullpen help, and RHP Kirby Yates was activated off the disabled list and optioned to Durham. ... OF Desmond Jennings, sidelined the past five weeks with a knee injury, underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday in Colorado. There was no immediate word on a timetable for his return, but he' ll be out a minimum of 3-4 weeks.