Maybin, Trout, Shoemaker lift Angels over Rays
Cameron Maybin has been what the Los Angels Angels desperately needed at the top of the order after Kole Calhoun was in a slump. In the Angels 4–0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, Maybin hit a leadoff home run , on the fifth pitch of the game — his second in as many games.
The American League MVP, Mike Trout, then stepped up to the plate to face Alex Cobb. Cobb, who had a good night outside of the first inning, threw a 91 mph fastball down the heart of the plate. Trout crushed his league tying 15th home run of the season to make it 2–0 to the Angels.
In the fourth inning, the visiting team had one of its better chances to add to their advantage over Tampa Bay. Luis Valbuena led off the inning with a single up the middle. Then Andrelton Simmons continued his hitting surge with another extra base hit into the right field corner. Cobb intentionally walked Calhoun to bring up Martin Maldonado. The Angels catcher could not do any damage as he hit into a 1–2–3 double play. Tampa Bay’s starter got out of the jam by getting Danny Espinosa to ground out.
Matt Shoemaker dominated the Rays starting lineup. Shoemaker’s splitter fouled hitters during his 6.1 innings of work Tuesday night, along with an excellent fastball. He gave up a hit in second inning, a lone single, before allowing three more base runners to reach until the seventh inning.
There was a chance in the aforementioned frame, that Tampa Bay could have turned around this whole game, if not for a couple of inches. Logan Morrison got into scoring position with a double and Tim Beckham walked. The Rays nearly had the lead, but narrowly missed a go-ahead home run. The former Houston Astros, Colby Rasmus hit the top of the padding of the wall in right field.
The Angels added two more runs in the top of the eighth to ensure victory. Trout drew a walk before reaching second following an Albert Pujols single. Valbuena brought him home with a single through the hole up the middle of the infield.
Two sacrifices followed, the first from Simmons to move Pujols and Valbuena up a base each. Calhoun proceeded to hit a double play, but still brought in Pujols to give the Angels the 4–0 advantage.
The third game of the series is scheduled to start at 7:10 PM EST, with the Angels sending Ricky Nolasco to the bump to battle Erasmo Ramirez.
