The Rays (14-12) started early, scoring 1 run in the 2nd inning and 3 runs in the 3rd, but the Rays' starter David Price (3-3) could not escape a rough fifth inning. Price struggled with his command today, allowing a career-high 12 hits, including a 2-run home run to the Angels' (15-11) first baseman, Mark Trumbo. Altogether, Price finished with an unimpressive line of 4.1 innings pitched, 1 walk, 4 strike outs, and 5 earned runs.
Opposite of price, Angels' starter Ervin Santana (1-3) pitched rather well, going 6 innings deep while striking out 5, walking 2, and allowing 4 runs and 1 earned run.
On the bright side, Matt Joyce hit his first homer of the year, a deep shot to right-center field that gave the Rays an early 4-1 advantage. However, Joyce's night ended on a bittersweet note as home plate umpire Tom Hallion ejected him in the bottom of the sixth inning for a comment he made after Hallion called him out on strikes.
Juan Cruz had an impressive showing out of the bullpen, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings. Cruz came in with runners on in the 5th inning, but induced an inning-ending double play ball, and then completed a noiseless 6th inning.
The Rays ran into trouble in the 7th inning, when neither Cesar Ramos nor Adam Russell could keep the Angels' hitters off base. Ramos allowed a hit and a walk, and then Russell came in, looking for a double play ball, but instead allowed an RBI single and RBI walk -- pushing the Angels' lead to 7-4.
B.J. Upton made the game interesting late, hitting a solo home run off reliever Fernando Rodney. But, unfortunately, 5 runs was not enough as the Rays lost 8-5.