Angels 5, Rays 3: Nick Franklin doesn't reach base, Drew Smyly records no outs

I not-so-briefly considered mashing my keyboard with my face for around 90 seconds, embedding the Fangraphs win expectancy chart, and calling this recap a day, but I think there's something in the SBNation bylaws that require you to have at least five English words in any particular post. I feel like that's unnecessary, because language is about accurately transmitting one person's ideas from their brain-cave to yours. And if I mashed my face onto the keyboard, you'd all perfectly understand everything that you needed to know about this particular game.

You'd like to think that dumping Price in the middle of a pennant race wouldn't have an effect on the players like it does on us, but man when the Rays lose like this it sure makes you question that thought. Anyway today's recap will consist mostly of bullet points, because I think the only way to digest something bitter-tasting is to take small bites.

• Sorry I didn't provide any GIFs/Andrew Friedman trade deadline Twitter posts like I promised, but it's because my laptop is currently a puddle on the ground, thanks to some well-placed liquid from a rather careless family member. Tried sticking it in rice for a while but apparently that trick only works for phones. #ToughBreak

• Hellickson gave up an extra base hit in every inning except his final, abbreviated one. His changeup looked meaty and he was missing the corners. He gave up a two-run homer to Trout, which itself isn't too incredible, but it did put the Rays in a hole early. Plus Hamiton hit a dinger to right on the fattest breaking pitch I've ever seen. He doesn't really look like a major league pitcher right now.

• Loney hit a double Maddon thought was a homer but the umps thought otherwise. #ToughBreak. Either way he ended up scoring that inning so no harm no foul.

• In the fifth the Rays mounted a helluva two-out rally but were stifled by some #ToughBreaks. With Zobrist on first Matt Joyce laced a double down the right field line that in most cases would've scored Zoby, but somehow didn't. Replays showed that Ben wasn't running at full speed, probably wondering what his life would be like if he had been traded to the Giants, and as a result he couldn't score immediately. Longoria managed to work a pretty good at-bat before he hit a ball right at David Freese at third. Freese misplayed it, threw it away, and allowed two runs to score. Unfortunately, Longo collided with the first base ump, fell down, and was tagged out at second. No commentary here, other than something like that wouldn't have happened when the Rays were winning nine games in a row. Hot teams get the breaks, sad teams get the short end of the stick and whiny recappers complaining about tough breaks.

• I really like Jeff Beliveau's curveball/slider. #ToughBreak-ing pitch to hit. He would make a fine lefty specialist.

• I think that Joel Peralta's case of Chickenchimichonga was the best thing that could've happened to his pitching arm. When's the last time that guy went on the DL for anything? Because his stuff looks a lot tighter and his control seems on point, which seems super important for a control pitcher. I wonder if anyone's been able to corroborate these two things using statistics and numbers. I would subscribe to their newsletter.

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2014-08-01&team=Rays&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2014-08-01&team=Rays&dh=0&season=2014">FanGraphs</a></span>

• Let this graph say what I can't say. The Rays seem to put up a fight in second and fifth innings, but their actions do little more than create small mesas across the vast green landscape, which shall hereafter be known as Trout Valley. The ninth inning...well...

• Rays load the bases with no outs on a Figgy single, Guyer walk, and a KK infield single. BUTTTTTTTT DJ struck out, Zobrist struck out, and Joyce flied to center. You might say it's a...

#ToughBreak