Angels: 4 Rays: 9 - A Wendle-ful Return

Is it too early to start worrying? Will the Rays ever win again?! Hard to say, but they would certainly try, with Blake Snell on the mound to help his team break a 3 game losing streak and 2nd series in a row. Rays would also have a familiar face back in the lineup.

Despite the good vibes and new-to-this-season faces, the Rays’ picked up right where they left off with Mike Trout doubling to open the 1st inning.

Ohtani singled to put runners on the corner and then stole 2nd. So we have runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Maybe we’ll get old man Pujols this time?

Nope. Rays and Snell found themselves in a quick 2-0 deficit before the Rays had a chance to bat. Snell didn’t help himself at all in the next inning, walking Johnathan Lucroy and then giving up a double to Wilfredo Tovar to have runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out.

Snell started the 2nd well enough, striking out Luis Rengifo and getting David Fletcher to ground out. Instead of going after Mike Trout, Cash Intentionally Walked Trout to get to Ohtani, who walked and made it 3-0 Rays at the end of 2 innings.

Finally, Snell was able to get the pesky Angels out 1-2-3 in order, but that would be the only good inning for him. Snell couldn’t keep the momentum going in the 4th inning, only getting one out before Cash brought out the hook.

Blakes final line: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3ER), 4 BB, and 3 ER on 79 pitches. Forgettable night.

Cash would go to Oliver Drake, who got Ohtani to roll over one to Adames and start an inning ending double play. Except it didn't end the inning. Yandy Diaz couldn’t hold onto the tailor made play and the Angels scored to make it 4-0

You might have noticed that I haven’t mentioned anything about the offense. That’s because there wasn’t anything worth mentioning up to this point.

Rays couldn’t figure out Andrew Heaney all night, but they figured out the Angels bullpen real quick. It all started when Austin Meadows doubled to open the 6th inning against Heaney, but when Angels manager Brad Ausmus went to his righty bullpen, it was feasting time for the Lefty Rays. Yandy Diaz started things off with a single to bring home Meadows and get the Rays on the board

After a Ji-Man Choi single put two runners on with nobody out, Rays quickly got two outs, and it looked as if the Rays’ rally would be short lived. Not so fast. Kiermaier was able to get a single past the shift and keep the Rally going.

Heredia walked after a HBP to load the bases. He would leave the game with a Left Hand contusion and is day-to-day. But that didn’t stop the feast.

Rays’ bats finally come to life, and put up 5 runs in the 6th inning to take a 5-4 lead. And it didn’t stop there.

Yandy Diaz opened the 7th inning with a double, and Ji-Man Choi gave the Rays some insurance with a blast.

Ji-Man Magic appeared on the defensive side as well with this amazing pick in the 8th to nab Cesar Puello

Dominik Vega

Runs kept coming too and everyone was getting in on it. Travis d’Arnaud home Kiermaier, and then Tommy Pham singled home TdA to bring the Rays roaring back and make it 9-4 Rays.

When the Rays’ ace was struggling the bats came alive and brought the Rays back from the dead. 6 different Rays combined for the nine runs, and the Bullpen picked up Blake Snell. A combination of Oliver Drake, Emilio Pagan, Colin Poche, Adam Kolarek, and Ryne Stanek went 5.1 IP, 3H, 0R, BB, and 6Ks to shut down the Angels’ bats.

Rays win 9-4, snap a 3 game losing streak, and take possession of 1st place. They move to 42-27 on the year and will take the good vibes into tomorrow’s game, where Uncle Charlie Morton will face off against Jose Suarez. First pitch is at 1:10 PM