The Tampa Bay Rays (67-55) defeated the Los Angeles Angels (52-71) 10-1 on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field to earn their fourth consecutive win.
The Rays got two runs in the third inning with RBI singles from Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez. After Mike Trout homered to left in the top of the sixth, Isaac Paredes answered with a homer of his own in the bottom of the sixth to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
Tampa Bay's offense exploded for six runs in the seventh inning to turn the game into a blowout. Christian Bethancourt hit a solo home run to lead off the inning, and after Jose Siri reached on a passed ball-strikeout the Rays kept the line moving. Bethancourt came up again with two outs in the inning and delivered a two-run single to complete the six run explosion.
Corey Kluber (8-7, 4.20) picked up the win after pitching six innings in which he allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out three and walking none. Both teams used position players to pitch at the end of this game - the Rays sent Christian Bethancourt out to pitch the ninth, while the Angels used infielder Phil Gosselin to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Rays and Angels now meet in the third game of the series on Wednesday night. First pitch Wednesday is scheduled for 7:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES