Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Angels Box Score on Jul 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 15, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Brad Miller's two-out RBI double in the 10th inning snapped a tie and lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium.

Miller's game-winner spoiled the return to the lineup of Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who had been out since he suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb on May 28.

Trout went 1-for-5 with a single and a stolen base, including a strikeout for the final out of the game.

Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian (2-1) retired the first two hitters in the 10th inning before catcher Wilson Ramos singled, bringing up Miller, who hit one high off the wall in right-center field.

Both starters pitched well and both came away with nothing other than a no-decision.

Angels starter Ricky Nolasco allowed just two hits in seven innings, both coming from Rays third baseman Evan Longoria. Longoria homered in the first inning and doubled in the seventh.

Like Nolasco, Rays starter Jake Faria allowed only one run. He gave up a home run to Albert Pujols in the second inning, worked his way out of a couple jams in the third and fourth innings and managed to get through 6 2/3 innings.

For Faria, who gave up five hits, the game was a homecoming of sorts. He grew up in Anaheim and his family had Angels season tickets. And when he was in high school, he modeled his delivery after former Angels pitcher Jered Weaver.

With both out after the seventh inning, the game became a battle of bullpens.

Tampa Bay's Adam Kolarek, Tommy Hunter, Brad Boxberger (2-0) and Alex Colome (26th save) combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Faria.

The Rays (48-43) took a 1-0 lead against Nolasco in the first inning on Longoria's two-out home run, his 13th of the season.

But the Angels (45-48) got the run back in the bottom of the second when Pujols led off with his 14th homer of the season and No. 605 of his career. Pujols needs four more home runs to tie Sammy Sosa for eighth on the all-time list.

The Angels threatened in the third inning after Cameron Maybin was hit on the helmet by a pitch. It was a glancing blow, and Maybin was OK. In fact, he stole second base two pitches later, but a replay challenge by the Rays reversed the call.

It was a big out, because Kole Calhoun walked and Trout singled, sending Calhoun to third. After Trout stole second, Pujols grounded back to the pitcher to end the inning.

Faria worked out of a jam in the fourth inning as well, the Angels loading the bases with two out before Maybin flied out to right field to end the threat.

Nolasco, meanwhile, was cruising. Following the home run he allowed to Longoria, Nolasco retired 13 of the next 14 hitters through the fifth inning, allowing only a two-out walk to Mallex Smith in the third inning.

NOTES: To make room for CF Mike Trout on the roster, the Angels optioned OF Eric Young Jr. to Triple-A Salt Lake. Young hit .260 with three homers, 11 RBIs, 18 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 34 games after being called up to take Trout's roster spot May 29. The Angels also called up LHP Jose Alvarez and optioned RHP Mike Morin to Salt Lake. ... Rays OF Colby Rasmus was placed on the restricted list by the Rays on Thursday and isn't expected to return to the club this season because of personal reasons. Rasmus, who was on the disabled list since June 23 because of a hip injury, hit .281 with nine homers and 23 RBIs in 37 games this season.