Angels 8, Tampa Bay 2
KEY MOMENT: The Rays trailed, 5-2, with one out in the seventh but brought the tying run to the plate after Asdrubal Cabrera singled and Jake Elmore walked, knocking Angels starter Matt Shoemaker out of the game. Fernando Salas struck out Nick Franklin and pinch-hitter Evan Longoria, the latter with a high-and-tight, 92-mph fastball, to preserve the lead.
AT THE PLATE: The Angels broke open the game with a three-run eighth that featured five straight hits, singles by Erick Aybar, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun’s two-run single and Taylor Featherston’s run-scoring double. Calhoun was 0 for 20 against left-handers before his RBI single in the sixth and two-run single in the eighth off Rays left-hander Enny Romero. Pujols is hitting .395 (17 for 43) with eight homers and 13 RBIs in 11 games, raising his average from .235 to .268.
ON THE MOUND: Shoemaker gave up a two-run double to Joey Butler in the sixth but escaped further damage by getting David DeJesus to fly out and striking out cleanup batter Logan Forsythe. “I got myself into that situation and they scored a couple runs, but it was huge to get out of that,” Shoemaker said. Jose Alvarez struck out two in a scoreless eighth, and Cam Bedrosian threw a scoreless ninth.
FREESE FRAME: Third baseman David Freese, who has felt his right hamstring “grabbing a little lately,” was pulled in the seventh inning, but he does not expect to go on the disabled list. “It’s something I’m managing,” Freese said. “We’ll see how it is [Wednesday]. I wouldn’t even say it’s hurt, but I just felt it a little more tonight, so I came out.” The Angels could call up third baseman Kyle Kubitza or infielder Josh Rutledge for coverage if Freese is out for a few days.
DRAFT UPDATE: Pepperdine second baseman Hutton Moyer, the son of former major league pitcher Jamie Moyer, was among eight players, three with Southern California ties, the Angels picked on the second day of the draft. Moyer was taken in the seventh round. The Angels also picked Loyola Marymount shortstop David Fletcher (sixth round) and Cal Baptist right-hander Adam Hofacket (10th round).
UP NEXT: Right-hander Jered Weaver (4-5, 4.60 ERA) will oppose Tampa Bay right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (4-2, 5.10) at Tropicana Field on Wednesday at 4 p.m. PDT. TV: FS West; Radio: 830.