The Rays caught a break on this family fun day when Angels ace Jered Weaver’s quest for 7 wins in 7 starts was pushed back a day due to illness. That left Angels rookie Tyler Chatwood facing off against fellow a rookie right-hander, the Rays’ Alex Cobb.
In the first inning it seemed like it would be an offensive onslaught against Chatwood. The Rays scored 5 runs on 7 hits and batted around before John Jaso became the third out, being thrown out after inexplicably taking a late break for second.
Cobb would look like he’d make that lead stand up for 4 innings, allowing a solo home run to Hank Conger but working around the Angels line up. The fifth inning is where things started coming unraveled for the 23 year old.
2 walks and a single allowed would end Cobb’s night after 4.1 innings. He allowed an un-Cobb-like 4 walks on the day and gave up 4 runs, all earned. Although the last 3 wouldn’t come on hits he allowed.
Andy Sonnanstine came into a high-leverage situation in that fourth inning and gave up another walk, a sac fly, and a single before Alberto Callaspo was thrown out at second base ending the inning. But the damage had been don’t and the game was tied 5-5.
From the fifth inning on this game was a battle of the bullpens. Both team’s relievers looked sharp and didn’t give up much until the 8th inning.
Although Joel Peralta gave up a leadoff double, the defense really gave the Angels the lead. With one out and a Torii Hunter on second John Jaso gave up a passed ball allowing Hunter to advance to third. Peralta then walked Vernon Wells to set up a double play. Although he got the groundball to second that he wanted, Zobrist opted to go to first and catch Wells in a rundown. That decision gave Hunter enough time to scamper home before the third out of the inning was recorded giving the Angels their first lead of the game 6-5.
That would be all the offense Anaheim would need, as their bullpen completely stifled the Rays offense, allowing a mere 2 hits after taking over for Chatwood. The Rays will hope to regroup on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays at 6:40.