Source: FanGraphs
Anaheim never trailed in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when David Freese belted a 3-1 fastball into the bleachers in left-field, and never looking back. Tampa Bay was able to bounce back with a two-out rally in the third against Garrett Richards. Kevin Kiermaier started the uprising with a double to left-center and came home on a Joey Butler ground ball through the middle. Evan Longoria continued the surge by lining a single to left, yet the BABIP luck dragons nipped at the heels of David DeJesus, who also hit a line drive. In spite of the fact that his ball was sharply hit, it went right to the shortstop Erick Aybar who was shifted right behind second base.
Colome was able to fan Trout in his first at-bat, however, the speedy center fielder came up big in the third inning, crushing a three-run homer on a hanging 0-2 slider to break the tie. The big blow followed base-hits by Johnny Giovatella and Erick Aybar.
The Rays were able to answer in the fourth inning, as Nick Franklin homered to right off Garrett Richards — driving home a pair of runs and cutting the Angels’ lead to 4-3. Franklin’s homer snapped an 0-25 stretch at the plate. Tampa Bay threatened by putting two more on base later in the inning, yet Richards struck out Joey Butler to keep the Angels ahead by one.
Albert Pujols tagged Colome for the third homer of the game, belting no doubter to left field on a hanging slider — his 12th home run of the season. El Coballo got himself into a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning, thanks to a leadoff single and a pair of walks (one intentional). And while Colome got out of the jam, keeping the Rays within striking distance, it was the same old song for the Rays hurler — he left too many non-competitive strikes in the heart of the zone, and the Angels sluggers made him pay for his mistakes
Tampa Bay attempted to put together one last threat in the seventh inning when Rene Rivera led off the inning with a well struck single up the middle. However, Brandon Guyer, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, grounded into a double play on the fourth pitch of his at-bat. Anaheim’s bullpen put down the next seven batters in order.
Pujols capped the scoring in the eighth with his second homer of the game against the recently recalled RHP Andrew Bellatti.
After the game, the Rays designated reliever Ernesto Frieri for assignment, corresponding by recalling Mikie Mahtook from Triple-A Durham. More on the roster move in Noteworthiness.
The New What Next
Chris Archer will start for the Rays against LHP C.J. Wilson. Archer posted dominating eight-inning performance against the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out 12. His 2.12 ERA is the best in club history through the end of May (minimum of 50 innings pitched). Wilson tossed six innings of one-run ball despite five walks against the Tigers. The southpaw ranks second only to Mike Trout for the team lead in WAR according to FanGraphs. The 34-year-oldWilson has a 3.67 ERA in 73-2/3 career innings against Tampa Bay. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 6/2/15 Starting Lineup
Guyer LF
Butler DH
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Souza RF
Elmore 1B
Cabrera SS
Mahtook CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— As mentioned above, the team designated Ernesto Frieri for assignment following the game, citing the need to get multiple innings from the last man in their bullpen. The team has 10 days to release, trade or put him through waivers. His place in the bullpen, for the moment anyway, will be filled by rookie RHP Andrew Bellatti, who was recalled Monday.
Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke about the move following the contest,
Kind of the way that our bullpen is, Ernie did a nice job for us, (but) we kind of felt going forward we were maybe better off suited with somebody that could give us a little more length. Not to say that Ernie can’t, but he’s been a one-inning pitcher for most of his career. Tried to buy some time to work some kinks out for him. We hope he has the opportunity to go somewhere else. If he doesn’t we would love to have him to work some more stuff out in (Triple-A) Durham.
Frieri, who declined to comment, posted a 4.63 ERA over 22 appearances, allowing 20 hits and 11 walks in 23-1/3 innings.
— The Rays will face the first of four consecutive left handed starters; the team hasn’t done that since 2010, when they won all four vs. the Mariners and Athletics.
— Rays minor-league OF Coty Blanchard has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for amphetamines. Blanchard was playing for Class-A Bowling Green, hitting .314 with one home tun and 18 RBI.