Angels 6, Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Los Angeles Angels gave up two hits in the final seven innings and got home runs from Mike Trout and Albert Pujols on the way to a 6-2 win Thursday night at Tropicana Field, taking two of three games in the series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Angels (30-30), who had trailed the Rays 2-0 in the sixth, got five runs off the bullpen of the Rays (32-29), who had gotten four scoreless innings from relievers the night before.
Los Angeles got seven solid innings from starter Garrett Richards, who held the Rays to four hits, his only real mistake a two-run home run to outfielder Steven Souza in the second. After getting three hits in the first two innings, the Rays managed just one in the next six, with a Rene Rivera double in the fifth the only thing keeping Angels pitchers from retiring 19 batters in a row.
Trout took the team lead with his 17th home run in the sixth, only to see Pujols match him with his 17th, a two-run shot in the ninth inning. The home run was also No. 537 for Pujols' career, moving him past Mickey Mantle into 16th on baseball's all-time list.
Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, rookie third baseman Kyle Kubitza hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game, with designated hitter Matt Joyce, who had walked, just beating the throw from Souza. Rays right-hander Brad Boxberger took over for right-hander Kevin Jepsen, inheriting two runners, but gave up an RBI fielder's choice to shortstop Erick Aybar, then an RBI double to Trout for the 4-2 Angels lead.
The Rays had a 2-0 lead behind starter Alex Colome, but the Angels cut that in half on Trout's solo home run in the sixth inning.
Souza hit a two-run homer -- his 12 home runs lead the team and all American League rookies this year -- in the second inning for a 2-0 lead. He was in an 0-for-21 slump until he doubled in the ninth inning on Wednesday and then followed with Thursday's shot off Richards.
Colome was sharp, taking a shutout into the sixth before he gave up a solo home run to Trout, his 17th homer of the season, cutting the Rays' lead to 2-1.
Colome had given up just three hits in five scoreless innings to open the game. His night ended after 5 1/3 innings.
Richards pitched well, save the home run to Souza. He struck out seven batters and walked one in seven innnings. The walk immediately preceded Souza's homer.
NOTES: The Rays went into Thursday's game with "TBA" still listed as Friday's starter for the opener against the Chicago White Sox. RHP Matt Andriese, who has been up and down this season and is scheduled to start for Triple-A Durham, is a possibility, though the bullpen will likely be needed for help. ... Including Wednesday's 4-2 win, the Rays have held opponents to two runs or less in 30 of their first 60 games, a first for an American League team since 1972. On the other end, the Angels have scored three runs or less in 30 of their 59 games, with a 9-21 record in the 30 games. ... Angels OF Mike Trout went into Thursday's games ranking third in the American League with 44 runs. He has led the AL in runs in each of the last three seasons. No player has ever led the AL in runs in four straight seasons. ... The Rays stay at home, hosting the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series starting Friday. The Angels return home for three games against the Oakland Athletics.