Trout off to strong start, while Anderson’s is positively historic
Pitcher is first Angel to begin a year with two starts of seven scoreless innings.
Mike Trout hit his fifth homer and added an RBI triple, and Tyler Anderson pitched seven-plus innings of four-hit ball in the Angels’ 7-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
Taylor Ward had three hits and drove in three runs for the Angels, who won six of their next eight games after getting blown out in their first two. Anthony Rendon also had three hits and scored three runs as the Angels rebounded smartly from a blowout loss to Boston on Sunday.
“You find out the character of the people you’re around when you get knocked down like we got knocked down yesterday and then come back and prove there is some character in that room,” manager Ron Washington said. “We’ve just got to sustain it and be consistent.”
Trout continued his strong start with a triple in the first inning off Zach Eflin (1-2), followed by a 423-foot homer in the third. He added a two-out single in the eighth but didn’t get another chance to hit for the cycle for the second time in his career.
The Angels finished with a season-high 14 hits.
Anderson (2-0) has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings against Florida teams to start his second season with the Angels. After dominating in Miami last week, he flummoxed the Rays with his speed variance and sharp location, striking out three with just one walk.
“It seemed like we couldn’t get on one pitch,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “Whatever pitch we were on, he was throwing the opposite. He kept us off balance. Really efficient.”
Anderson is the first Angels pitcher to begin a season with two starts of at least seven scoreless innings, according to the team. He left to a standing ovation after giving up a leadoff single in the eighth.
“We have a lot of great fans, and I feel like last year I didn’t pitch well,” said Anderson, who went 6-6 with a 5.43 earned-run average.
Rendon singled and scored on Trout’s triple to right in the first before Ward singled home Trout. In the third, Trout homered for the second straight day, driving a fastball over the ficus trees beyond center field.
Ward delivered again in the fifth with a two-out, tworun single. Luis Rengifo added a run-scoring single in the seventh, and Mickey Moniak got another in the eighth.
Right-hander Chase Silseth went on the 15-day injured list because of right elbow inflammation. José Soriano will take his spot in the rotation starting Wednesday.