Los Angeles Angels vs Tampa Bay Rays Match Player Stats On May 24, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 24, 2017

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Steven Souza had two of the Rays' three home runs as Tampa Bay ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.

Souza tied the game with a two-run home run in the second, and Colby Rasmus and Souza went back-to-back in the seventh off Ricky Nolasco (2-4), who is now tied for the American League lead with 16 home runs allowed already in 2017. The Rays (24-25) got six strong innings from starter Erasmo Ramirez (3-0), bouncing back after Tampa Bay had lost the first two games to Los Angeles (25-24).

Tampa Bay's bullpen pitched well in relief of Ramirez -- Jose Alvarado pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, Ryne Stanek a scoreless eighth, striking out Mike Trout and Albert Pujols with a runner on, and Alex Colome pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

Trailing 3-2, the Angels brought Nolasco back out for the seventh and both hitters he faced went deep -- Rasmus with his fifth, then Souza with his seventh, giving him his fourth career multi-home run game. Souza went into the game hitting just .119 in his last 20 games, with six RBIs in 67 at-bats during that stretch.

The Rays had two runners called out on the basepaths after hits in the sixth inning -- Evan Longoria reached base on an infield single, but the first-base umpire ruled that he made a move toward second as he watched the third baseman and he was tagged out before he returned to first. Logan Morrison followed with a double, but was picked off by the pitcher -- replays appeared to show he was safe and the Rays challenged the call, but the ruling was upheld upon review.

The day after the Angels led off the game with solo home runs from Cameron Maybin and Mike Trout, they had a similarly successful start, as Trout crushed a double to left field and Albert Pujols followed with a two-run home run to left for a 2-0 lead. It was Pujols' sixth home run of the season and the 597th of his career.

Just as Rays starter Alex Cobb did Tuesday, Tampa Bay's Erasmo Ramirez settled down after the early lapse, shutting out the Angels for the next four innings and holding them to just two more hits along the way. Ramirez, who was moved out of the bullpen when Blake Snell was sent to the minors, has pitched well in his return to the rotation.

The Rays, who hadn't scored in 17 straight innings against the Angels entering the game, bounced back this time, however. Logan Morrison drew a walk in the second off Angels starter Ricky Nolasco, and Souza brought him in with a two-run home run, his sixth of the year, to tie the game. Nolasco went into the game tied for second in the American League with 13 home runs allowed.

Tampa Bay took the lead in the third inning, as Corey Dickerson doubled and Kevin Kiermaier followed with an RBI double for a 3-2 lead. The Rays got runners to second and third with two outs, but Nolasco was able to strike out Tim Beckham to end the inning and keep it a one-run game.

NOTES: The Angels made a transaction, placing RHP Alex Meyer, scheduled to start Thursday, on the 10-day disabled list with back spasms and recalling RHP Brooks Pounders from Triple-A Salt Lake City. RHP Daniel Wright is expected to be called up from Salt Lake City to start in Meyer's place Thursday. ... The Rays made a bullpen switch, placing RHP Diego Moreno on the 10-day disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder and recalling RHP Ryan Garton from Triple-A Durham to replace him. Garton was superb in Durham after being sent down, with a 0.59 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 15 innings. Moreno was 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in five appearances. ... Rays 3B Evan Longoria walked in the third inning for his 543rd career walk, moving him past Ben Zobrist for the Rays' franchise record.