Los Angeles Angels vs Tampa Bay Rays Match Player Stats On Aug 02, 2018

C.J. Cron's two-run single in the fourth inning snapped a scoreless tie and propelled the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Cron spent his first four major league seasons with the Angels before being traded to the Rays for a minor leaguer this past offseason, and is having the best season of his career. He already has 22 home runs, better than his previous career-high of 16 accomplished in each of the previous three seasons.

On Thursday, it was a single off Angels starter Andrew Heaney (6-7) with the bases loaded, driving in two, that led the way for the Rays in completing a three-game sweep. The third run scored on a wild pitch, and Cron scored the fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Willy Adames.

The Rays pitching staff took it from there, handling the Angels lineup that was without Mike Trout. Trout was not in the starting lineup for the second time this season, having suffered a right wrist contusion on Wednesday. He had X-rays and an MRI exam, which were negative.

Trout hurt his wrist on a feet-first slide into third base, jamming his right wrist when reaching back on the slide. Last year he tore ligaments in his left thumb on a head-first slide.

The Rays' victory, like the other two in the series, came after using a reliever as their starter. Hunter Wood started and gave up just one hit in two scoreless innings, striking out five of the seven batters he faced. Justin Upton had the only hit against Wood with a double in the first inning.

Wood struck out the side in the second to complete his outing.

Jalen Beeks (1-1) relieved Wood to start the third and went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk. The Angels scored their only two runs of the game in the seventh after Upton singled and went to third on a double by Albert Pujols.

Andrelton Simmons and Jefry Marte followed with consecutive RBI groundouts to cut the Angels' deficit to 4-2. Diego Castillo pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

Daniel Robertson had two hits for Tampa Bay, while the Angels totaled just three hits in the game, two of them by Upton.

--Field Level Media