ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- Alex Cobb allowed back-to-back solo home runs to start the game, which proved to be more than enough offense for the Los Angeles Angels, who shut out the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 Tuesday at Tropicana Field.
Cobb started the game by giving up a solo homer to Cameron Maybin, his third home run of the year and second in as many days. On the very next pitch, Mike Trout launched his 15th home run of the season.
The right-hander settled down after the early hiccups, though and kept the game manageable through the seventh.
Tampa Bay really had only one opportunity to get into the game, as Logan Morrison doubled off Matt Shoemaker with one out, and Tim Beckham followed by drawing a walk. Colby Rasmus, mired in a 4 for 31 slump, just missed a home run that would have given the Rays the lead, having to settle for a single that loaded the bases. Mike Scioscia then turned to Yusmeiro Petit to try and get out of the situation, which he did by striking out Steven Souza Jr. and Derek Norris to leave the sacks filled.
Cobb gave up a one-out walk to Trout and a base hit to Albert Pujols before exiting, and Danny Farquhar couldn't prevent the inherited runners from scoring, with singles by Luis Valbuena and Andrelton Simmons to score Tour and Pujols, respectively.
The loss drops the Rays to 23-25 on the season.
Tampa Bay will look to snap this three-game skid Wednesday, as Erasmo Ramirez (2-0, 3.00 ERA) takes on Ricky Nolasco (2-3, 4.47 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10, with coverage on WDAE starting at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch , presented by Sykes Lakeland.