Souza Jr.’s two home runs gives Rays win over Angels
Today against Ricky Nolasco, it was the Tampa Bay Rays’ turn to take part in hitting the long ball. They hit three home runs off of Nolasco, who has struggled with the long ball this season, en route to a 5–2 victory. With this win, Tampa Bay has the chance of splitting the series tomorrow afternoon.
Steven Souza Jr. hit two home runs and drove in three, while Colby Rasmus got the better of Nolasco with a solo shot in the seventh. That run support was enough to give Erasmo Ramirez his third victory of the season.
However, to start the game, the Rays trailed early once again. Mike Trout doubled on a hard-hit liner to center field. Then future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols hit home run number 597 in the left field stands to give the Angels the 2–0 advantage.
The 27-year-old Ramirez shut down the surging Angels’ offense after that, giving up just two more hits the rest of the way. Ramirez also allowed only two walks in a stellar performance which ended a three-game losing streak for the Rays.
In the second inning, the Rays managed to level the game at two. Logan Morrison continued to trouble the Angels’ pitching staff with by working a leadoff walk. Souza Jr., with two outs in the inning, took a fastball down the middle of the plate over the center field wall.
During the following inning, the Rays took the lead for good. Corey Dickerson doubled with one out to set things in motion for the home team. Another double followed right behind, as Kevin Kiermaier brought Dickerson in from second with an extra base hit into the gap in right.
Tampa Bay ended Nolasco’s night in the bottom half of the seventh. Souza Jr. and Rasmus hit back-to-back home runs to start the frame, while both batters faced a 2–0 count. Those blasts to center and left, respectively, pushed the Rays’ edge to 5–2.
These two sides will close out the four game set tomorrow afternoon. Daniel Wright, making his second start of the season, will replace the injured Alex Meyer for the Angels. Meanwhile, Tampa will go with the red-hot Matt Andriese, who is 3–0 in his last four starts.
