The Tampa Bay Rays were hoping to rebound after dropping Sunday’s finale in Seattle, but the offensive juggernaut known as the Los Angeles Angels had other plans, as they hit four home runs, including a grand slam by Shohei Ohtani to beat up the Rays 11-3 Monday in Anaheim.
The Rays had a number of opportunities to get on the scoreboard early against Angels starter Noah Syndergaard, but could not open the scoring until the top of the fourth inning, when Randy Arozarena connected for his first home run of 2022 to make it a 1-0 game.
Jeffrey Springs, who had made two opens before this start, retired the first ten Angels hitters he faced, but Mike Trout and Ohtani each reached on a base hit, and after an Anthony Rendon flyout, Jared Walsh got a hold of a Springs fastball and sent it over the batters eye in center for his sixth home run of the year.
Jalen Beeks took over to start the fifth, and put up a zero in his first inning, but in the sixth, he allowed a base hit to Brandon Marsh in front of Trout, who lined a two-run homer over the small wall in left for his seventh home run of the year, and on the next pitch Ohtani hit a solo shot to extend the deficit to 6-1.
Tampa Bay lost outfielder Manuel Margot, who had been named the American League Player of the Week Monday afternoon, in the top of the sixth, as he left the game with discomfort in his right hamstring,
The Rays scored a pair of runs in the sixth with an pinch-hit RBI single by Harold Ramirez off Aaron Loup, and a fielding error by Tyler Wade on a ground ball by Taylor Walls, who had pinch-ran for Margot the inning prior. But Francisco Mejia, who pinch-hit for Kevin Kiermaier, grounded out as the potential tying run.
Calvin Faucher, who was called up from Triple-A Durham Monday, saw his dream of making the big leagues become a nightmare, as he gave up singles to Chad Wallach and Brandon Marsh around a four-pitch walk to Andrew Velazquez. Trout then walked to force in a run, and Ohtani followed with a grand slam into the home bullpen to cap the scoring.
The Rays will look to stop the two-game skid Tuesday, as Corey Kluber (1-1, 2.36 ERA) takes on Reid Ditmars (1-1, 5.32 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 9:38.