The Tampa Bay Rays (18-15) rallied to a 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels (13-17) on Thursday night in Anaheim.
The Angels built a 3-0 lead early in the third inning - after Phil Gosselin doubled in a run, Shoehi Ohtani blasted his tenth home run of the season to give Los Angeles a 3-0 lead. It looked for a while as though that would be all the offense the Angels would need, but the Rays would rally late.
After MIke Zunino got the Rays on the board with a solo home run in the seventh, the Rays blew the doors off this one in the eighth inning. The Rays sent twelve batters to the plate and scored seven runs off three Angels pitchers to build an 8-3 lead. The win would give Tampa Bay a four game sweep of the Angels in Anaheim and their fifth win in a row dating back to the finale of the Astros series on Sunday.
Josh Fleming (2-3, 2.81) picked up the win for the Rays, pitching five innings and allowing three earned runs out of the bullpen behind opener Colin McHugh. McHugh was effective in his two innings of work at the beginning of the game, striking out five and walking none in two shutout innings in which he did not allow a hit.
The Rays west coast swing continues as they travel to Oakland to begin a three game series against the As on Friday night. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 9:40 PM - pregame coverage begins at 9:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES