Los Angeles @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2013 ) LA Angels 6, Tampa Bay 5

The Tampa Bay Rays lost in extra innings, by 10 runs and then let a four-run lead get away Tuesday to drop their third straight in three rough days. The Rays look to turn it around when rookie Chris Archer goes to the mound Wednesday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels in the second of a three-game series. Tampa Bay has fallen 2 ½ games behind Boston in the American League East and the Angels have won four straight games for the first time since late June.

Rookie of the year candidate Wil Myers is mired in a 9-for-57 slump for the Rays, who left 12 on base in the 6-5 loss to Angels Tuesday. Erick Aybar knocked in four runs as Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay for only the second time in the last 14 meetings. Grant Green also had two hits for the Angels and is 21-for-60 since being acquired from Oakland.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Garrett Richards (4-5, 3.95) vs. Rays RH Chris Archer (7-5, 2.93)

Richards pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings in his last start before being hit by a line drive and leaving with a right forearm contusion, but earned the victory over Felix Hernandez and Seattle. The right-hander has made 40 appearances and is 3-3 in 10 starts, winning two of three decisions during August. Yunel Escobar is 1-for-3 with a homer against Richards, who has never faced Tampa Bay.

Archer faces the Angels for the first time in his career after two solid outings, allowing three runs over 14 innings in a win and a no-decision. The 24-year-old right-hander has yielded only 72 hits in 95 1/3 innings and opponents are batting .211 against him. Josh Hamilton is the only Angel with experience against Archer and he has a homer in two at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Hamilton is 23-for-56 during a 14-game road hitting streak after an infield single in three at-bats Tuesday.

2. Tampa Bay started a stretch of 13 consecutive games against AL West opponents Tuesday and is 11-6 against the division this season.

3. Angels 1B Mark Trumbo needs one home run to become the club’s first player to hit 30 in back-to-back seasons since Vladimir Guerrero did it in three straight from 2004-2006.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Angels 1