Anaheim, Calif. — José Caballero’s homer and two early runs on a wild pitch proved pivotal as the Tampa Bay Rays secured a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, wrapping up their road trip on a high note.
Tampa Bay showcased resilience, bouncing back from an initial setback against Colorado last week to clinch four wins out of five games. Despite a quiet offensive performance with just two hits in the final seven innings, the Rays managed to seal the win.
Manager Kevin Cash commended his team’s ability to rebound, stating, “I think it speaks volumes about our club that we can get frustrated, irritated losing that first game, but we showed the ability to bounce right back.”
RHP Zack Littell displayed grit on the mound, allowing only one run despite giving up six hits and three walks, pitching into the fifth inning. Littell attributed his performance to the Angels’ quality at-bats, acknowledging, “One through nine, that was probably collectively the best at-bats I’ve ever gone through a lineup.”
The Angels, meanwhile, struggled to capitalize on offensive opportunities, with manager Ron Washington expressing frustration over the umpiring in the ninth inning. Washington criticized the consistency of the calls, stating, “He called that game like he had somewhere to go. Didn’t take into account that we’re fighting to try to win a game.”
José Soriano made his first major league start for the Angels, yielding four runs over four innings of work. Despite early struggles, Soriano remained composed and confident, reflecting on his journey from the bullpen reliever to starter, saying, “It feels great to be in the rotation, throwing some innings and helping us to win.”
The game saw notable performances from centerfielder Mike Trout, who continued his offensive prowess with a double, single, and walk, and Jo Adell, who contributed with a home run and an RBI single. However, Adell’s baserunning blunder in the eighth inning halted the Angels’ momentum.
With the victory, the Rays head home with momentum, while the Angels look to regroup after a disappointing homestand.
UP NEXT:
Rays: San Francisco visits Tropicana Field on Friday for the opener of a seven-game homestand. Tampa Bay hadn’t announced a starter.
Angels: Reid Detmers (2-0, 1.64 ERA) takes the mound in Boston on Friday when the Halos open a 10-game road trip that includes four games at Tampa Bay.
