The Los Angeles Angels (8-8) blew out the Tampa Bay Rays (9-8) 7-3 on Monday night at Tropicana Field in the first of a four-game series between the two teams.
The Rays led 1-0 late thanks to Jose Siri scoring on a RBI groundout from Harold Ramirez in the fifth inning. But the Angels erupted for five runs in the eighth and added two more in the seventh to turn this game in their favor.
Mike Trout gave the Angels a lead in the eighth with a two-run blast, his seventh. Matt Thaiss added a three-run double to make it 5-1. Though Harold Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the eighth to pull within 5-3, Taylor Ward answered with a two-run blast of his own to make it 7-3 in favor of the Angels.
Zach Eflin was brilliant in his start, pitching six and one-third innings of scoreless baseball in which he allowed six hits while striking out five and walking none. Phil Maton (0-1, 12.00) came apart in the eighth inning with five earned runs on five hits in one inning while striking out none and walking one.
The Rays and Angels meet in the second game of their four-game series on Thursday night. Aaron Civale (2-1, 2.12) will start for the Rays and fase Jose Soriano (0-2, 6.30) for the Angels. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at 5:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES