Rays 7, Angels 3: California Dub

The Rays are on the West Coast tonight, beginning a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. Shohei Ohtani was expected to start tonight’s game for the Angels but was scratched, resulting in Jose Quintana to start against Tyler Glasnow.

Jose Quintana struck out the side on 15 pitches to begin the game. In the bottom of the first, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit a double on a ball that deflected off of Mike Brosseau’s glove, but was thrown out by Francisco Mejia while trying to steal third. A walk of Mike Trout preceded an inning-ending line out by Anthony Rendon.

With one out in the bottom of the second, we had a baseball blooper moment as Tyler Glasnow, with a 1-1 count, thought he had struck out Justin Upton.

Glasnow walked Upton but struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

The top of the third saw the bottom-third of the Rays lineup see Quintana for the first time after five of the first six batters struck out in previous innings. Francisco Mejia got the inning going with a single up the middle and Willy Adames moved him up to third with a double also to center field. Randy Arozarena drew a walk after Kevin Kiermaier struck out to load the bases for Mike Brosseau.

Brosseau delivered by hitting a chopper that bounced off of shortstop David Fletcher to score the game’s first two runs. Yandy Diaz hit a two-out single to left field to score Arozarena from third to make it 3-0 before Manuel Margot hit a single up the middle to make it 4-0. Brandon Lowe struck out to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth, Willy Adames added to the lead with a solo home run to left, making it 5-0 Rays. Adames’ home run left his bat at 111 mph and traveled 446 feet.

Quintana’s day was done after Adames’ recording his second out of the fourth inning, James Hoyt was brought in to relieve the Angels starter. Patrick Sandoval entered the game after one out in the top of the fifth.

Prior to the bottom of the sixth, Glasnow had allowed two hits with seven strikeouts after seeing the Angels lineup two times through. Unfortunately, his outing unfolded very quickly after walking leadoff hitter David Fletcher. Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run home run to make it 5-2 before Glasnow was able to strike out Mike Trout for the inning’s first out.

Anthony Rendon hit a solo home run thanks to a meatball from Glasnow, making it 5-3. A mound visit occurred before a four-pitch walk of Jared Walsh. After multiple spiked pitches to Justin Upton, Glasnow was able to get the inning-ending double play on a grounder to Adames.

Glasnow’s bad sixth inning put a blemish on his otherwise strong outing. Eight batters were struck out over six innings and 99 pitches, while three runs scored on four hits, in addition to four walks. Junior Guerra was brought in to pitch the top of the seventh for the Angels after the first out in the inning was recorded.

Jeffrey Springs replaced Glasnow in the bottom of the seventh and worked a scoreless inning, thanks in part to a base running blunder by Albert Pujols, who tried to advance to second on a flyout unsuccessfully. Springs stayed in through the bottom of the eighth and recorded the first two outs. A single by Mike Trout ended Springs’ appearance.

Ryan Thompson was brought in to relieve Springs and struck out pinch-hitter Scott Schebler to end the inning. Raisel Iglesias took the mound for the Angels in the top of the ninth.

Who doesn’t love insurance runs? After Yandy Diaz hit a two-out single, Manuel Margot hit a high fly ball into the left field seats to make it 7-3 Rays. Landing 409 feet from home, the ball left his bat at 107 mph.

Diego Castillo was called upon to close this game out. A leadoff walk didn’t hurt as Castillo was able to strike out Justin Upton and get the game-ending double play from Albert Pujols.

The Rays start the West Coast trip on the right note with a 7-3 win over the Angels. The second game takes place at the same location with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 pm. Shane McClanahan takes the mound for the Rays against former-Ray Alex Cobb.