Angels 6, Rays 2: Collin Cowgill delivered a three-run double and Jerome Williams tossed 6 1/3 solid innings as host Los Angeles earned a split of the four-game series.
Josh Hamilton went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Kole Calhoun and Grant Green each drove in a run for the Angels, who won for just the third time in 14 home games. James Loney plated both runs for Tampa Bay, which fell 6 1/2 games behind first-place Boston in the American League East but remained 2 1/2 ahead of the New York Yankees for the second wild card.
Cowgill staked Williams to an early lead by clearing the bases with his double in the second inning. Tampa Bay got within one in the third on Loney's two-run double, but Hamilton and Calhoun recorded RBI singles and Green plated a run with a fielder's choice in the bottom half to cap the rally.
Williams (6-10) limited Tampa Bay to two runs and six hits while striking out seven en route to his first victory since June 12. Three relievers combined to work 2 2/3 hitless innings as the Angels improved to 10-3 in their last 13 overall contests.
David Price (8-7) was tagged for six runs and 11 hits over seven frames. The left-hander has lost back-to-back starts after going 5-0 over his previous eight outings.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Williams has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last four starts. ... Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria struck out twice to raise his season total to a career high-tying 140. The star also struck out 140 times in 2009. ... 2B Ben Zobrist recorded two of the Rays' six hits.
Tampa Bay | LA Angels | |
David Price | Player | Jerome Williams |
Loss | W/L | Win |
7.0 | IP | 6.1 |
6 | Strikeouts | 7 |
11 | Hits | 6 |
7.71 | ERA | 2.84 |
Tampa Bay | LA Angels | |
Ben Zobrist | Player | Josh Hamilton |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 2 |
.667 | Avg | .500 |