Preview: Angels (28-29) at Rays (31-27)
Game: 2
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: June 10, 2015 7:10 PM EDT
With a five-game losing streak behind them and one of their superstars finally living up to that title, things are looking up for the Los Angeles Angels.
Their next starter, however, might warn the team against buying too much into perceived turnarounds Wednesday night as they seek a road series win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Angels (29-29) opened this three-game set with Tuesday's 8-2 victory over the Rays (31-28) to end their worst skid of the season. Albert Pujols hit his 536th home run to tie Mickey Mantle for 16th on the all-time list. More importantly for Los Angeles' immediate needs, the slugger is batting .395 with eight home runs in his last 11 games, bumping his average to a season-high .268 after entering that stretch on May 28 at .235.
"Great player, future Hall of Famer," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Would prefer for him to go ahead and get out of Tampa."
Los Angeles matched a season high with 15 hits after batting .220 on the skid, which included three losses against the New York Yankees to begin a trip that concludes Thursday. Kole Calhoun had a career-high four RBIs after totaling three in his previous 14 games.
"It was nice to break out on this trip," Calhoun said.
Cash's frustration isn't coming from just the one game. The Rays' struggles haven't yet translated to a losing streak like Los Angeles', but they likely will if Tampa Bay can't pick it up at the plate. The Rays have scored nine runs in their last five games while batting .175, but they've got three wins to show for it thanks to a 2.05 ERA.
The likely return of Evan Longoria could help. Longoria hasn't started for three games because of a sore left wrist but expects to be in the lineup Wednesday.
A win would secure either team at worst a split in the season series after the Rays won two of three in Los Angeles to start the month, though neither Jered Weaver or Erasmo Ramirez pitched in that series.
Weaver (4-5, 4.60 ERA) seemed to have finally figured things out before his last start, going 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his previous five. Then he allowed a season-high seven runs and nine hits with three home runs in 5 2-3 innings of Friday's 8-7 loss to the Yankees, possibly feeling a return to the 0-4 record and 6.29 ERA of his first six starts.
"Pretty frustrating," Weaver told MLB's official website. "I felt like everything was working."
The right-hander has never had that kind of outing at Tropicana Field. Weaver is 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA in five starts there with three straight victories, though only one has come since 2011.
Ramirez (4-2, 5.10) is trying to win a third straight start after allowing a run and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings of Thursday's 2-1 victory in Seattle. He's limited opponents to a run and 10 hits in 12 1-3 innings over those victories, and is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in five starts since re-entering the rotation on May 14. He also issued just two walks in his last two starts after totaling nine in his previous three.
The right-hander is 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA in four starts and one relief effort against the Angels while holding Erick Aybar (1 for 12) and Calhoun (1 for 8) in check. Mike Trout is 5 for 13 with a home run.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Angels at Rays
Tue, Jun 9 Final 8 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Angels at Rays
Wed, Jun 10 - 7:10PM EDT
GAME 3
Angels at Rays
Thu, Jun 11 - 7:10PM EDT
Game: 2
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: June 10, 2015 7:10 PM EDT
With a five-game losing streak behind them and one of their superstars finally living up to that title, things are looking up for the Los Angeles Angels.
Their next starter, however, might warn the team against buying too much into perceived turnarounds Wednesday night as they seek a road series win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Angels (29-29) opened this three-game set with Tuesday's 8-2 victory over the Rays (31-28) to end their worst skid of the season. Albert Pujols hit his 536th home run to tie Mickey Mantle for 16th on the all-time list. More importantly for Los Angeles' immediate needs, the slugger is batting .395 with eight home runs in his last 11 games, bumping his average to a season-high .268 after entering that stretch on May 28 at .235.
"Great player, future Hall of Famer," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Would prefer for him to go ahead and get out of Tampa."
Los Angeles matched a season high with 15 hits after batting .220 on the skid, which included three losses against the New York Yankees to begin a trip that concludes Thursday. Kole Calhoun had a career-high four RBIs after totaling three in his previous 14 games.
"It was nice to break out on this trip," Calhoun said.
Cash's frustration isn't coming from just the one game. The Rays' struggles haven't yet translated to a losing streak like Los Angeles', but they likely will if Tampa Bay can't pick it up at the plate. The Rays have scored nine runs in their last five games while batting .175, but they've got three wins to show for it thanks to a 2.05 ERA.
The likely return of Evan Longoria could help. Longoria hasn't started for three games because of a sore left wrist but expects to be in the lineup Wednesday.
A win would secure either team at worst a split in the season series after the Rays won two of three in Los Angeles to start the month, though neither Jered Weaver or Erasmo Ramirez pitched in that series.
Weaver (4-5, 4.60 ERA) seemed to have finally figured things out before his last start, going 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his previous five. Then he allowed a season-high seven runs and nine hits with three home runs in 5 2-3 innings of Friday's 8-7 loss to the Yankees, possibly feeling a return to the 0-4 record and 6.29 ERA of his first six starts.
"Pretty frustrating," Weaver told MLB's official website. "I felt like everything was working."
The right-hander has never had that kind of outing at Tropicana Field. Weaver is 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA in five starts there with three straight victories, though only one has come since 2011.
Ramirez (4-2, 5.10) is trying to win a third straight start after allowing a run and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings of Thursday's 2-1 victory in Seattle. He's limited opponents to a run and 10 hits in 12 1-3 innings over those victories, and is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in five starts since re-entering the rotation on May 14. He also issued just two walks in his last two starts after totaling nine in his previous three.
The right-hander is 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA in four starts and one relief effort against the Angels while holding Erick Aybar (1 for 12) and Calhoun (1 for 8) in check. Mike Trout is 5 for 13 with a home run.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Angels at Rays
Tue, Jun 9 Final 8 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Angels at Rays
Wed, Jun 10 - 7:10PM EDT
GAME 3
Angels at Rays
Thu, Jun 11 - 7:10PM EDT
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