Vidal Brujan’s RBI double in the top of the tenth inning broke a 2-2 tie and allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to end their three-game losing streak by defeating the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 Wednesday at Angel Stadium.
Both teams knew Wednesday would be a pitching duel, with Shane McClanahan taking on Shoheo Ohtani. For the Tampa Bay left-hander, he would allow just three hits in seven innings of work, striking out eleven and walking one.
Ohtani worked a scoreless first, but fell behind 1-0 in the second when Kevin Kiermaier connected and sent one of his pitches into the seats in right-center for his third home run of the year.
KK goes yard off Ohtani in the first!
WATCH ➡️ https://t.co/VS5OAR2qqA#MLB | #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/j1pZ1DthNj
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) May 11, 2022
Tampa Bay manufactured a second run in the top of the eighth off reliever Ryan Tepera, as Taylor Walls singled, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brett Phillips, and scored on a groundout by Yandy Diaz.
But the Angels were able to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth off Andrew Kittredge, as Jack Mayfield led off with a base hit, and after Tyler Wade hit into a fielder’s choice, Taylor Ward pinch-hit for Andrew Velazquez and crushed a two-run homer to even things at 2-2.
After a scoreless ninth, Brujan led off the top of the tenth with a double to left that brought in Kevin kiermaier, who started the frame at second base. Taylor Walls grounded out, but with Harold Ramirez pinch-hitting for Phillips, Brujan stole third base and scored on Ramirez’s single to left-center.
Brooks Raley gave up a walk to Mike Trout, who pinch-hit in the bottom of the tenth, but got Ward to ground into a fielder’s choice and struck out Brandon Marsh to end the game and earn the save.
The Rays have Thursday off before starting the next homestand Friday with a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 2.89 ERA) will start Friday’s opener, taking on Kevin Gausman (3-1, 2.13 ERA), with first pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
