The Tampa Bay Rays could not finish off a four-game sweep in Anaheim, as Shohei Ohtani allowed just four hits while pitching into the eighth while Martin Maldonado homered and drove in a pair to help the Los Angeles Angels salvage the finale at Angel Stadium 5-2 Sunday.
Starting Sergio Romo for the second straight day, Tampa Bay managed to match zeroes with the Japanese sensation through the first inning, then partnered with Matt Andriese to put up a scoreless second. Tampa Bay got on the board first, as Johnny Field picked on a mistake from the Angels starter and sent it into the rock pile in center for his fourth home run of the season.
Andriese (1-2) worked a scoreless third, but saw his outing fall apart in the fourth, beginning with his error on a comebacker by Andrelton SImmons, followed by a four-pitch walk to Zack Cozart and a wild pitch that allowed both runners to advance a base. Pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena's groundout tied the game, and after manager Kevin Cash brought in Jose Alvarado, Maldonado gave Los Angeles the lead for good with a sacrifice fly.
The Angels added another run in the fifth when Alvarado walked Mike Trout, who promptl;y stole both second and third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cozart.
Trout and Cozart would hook up again in the seventh off Anthony Banda, with a second sacrifice fly from the Angels third baseman making it 4-1.
Tampa Bay tried to dig into the lead, as Denard Span's RBI groundout in the eighth make it a 4-2 game, but Brad Miller struck out as the potential tying run to end the inning, and Maldonado led off the bottom half of the frame with a solo blast off Banda to set the score.
The loss snaps Tampa Bay's six-game winning streak and drops them back to a game under .500. They finish their three-city, 11-game road trip with a mark of 7-4.
TUESDAY'S MATCHUP
Rays (22-23) vs. Boston Red Sox (32-15), 7:10 p.m. first pitch, with pregame coverage on WDAE beginning at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.
Rays starter - RHP Jake Faria (3-2, 5.30 ERA)
Red Sox starter - LHP Chris Sale (4-1, 2.29 ERA)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Wednesday - Rays vs. Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Thursday - Rays vs. Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Friday - Rays vs. Orioles, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Saturday - Rays vs. Orioles, 4:10 p.m. first pitch
Sunday - Rays vs, Orioles, 1:10 p.m. first pitch