Odorizzi strong through six but bullpen gives up another lead as Rays drop opener vs Angels.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – On a night when Tampa Bay Bucs rookie TE, O.J. Howard threw out the first pitch, the Rays bats were quieted in a 3-2 loss to the Angels.
Jake Odorizzi gave up an early run in the first with a bases-loaded sac fly.
Dickerson/LoMo go deep!
Now LoMo goes deep!
Seriously, don’t look away when this team is batting. pic.twitter.com/9iujFOa38N
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 22, 2017
Corey Dickerson hit his fifth career lead off home run (12th of the season) to tie it up quickly. A few batters later – Logan Morrison would re-tie Dickerson for the team lead with his own 12th bomb of 2017. After a 23-pitch first for Odorizzi, the Rays would force Angels righty, J.C. Ramirez to throw 25 of his own.
The Angels mounted a serious threat in the top of the fourth. With two in scoring position after a ground rule double by Kole Calhoun, Odorizzi worked his way out of the jam to keep the Rays one-run lead secure.
Cameron Maybin tied things up with a C-ring home run in the top of the fifth.
Odorizzi’s night would end after six solid innings and a season-high eight strikeouts. Another quality start by the Rays rotation.
Bullpen can’t hold it.
Jumbo Diaz would come on in the top of the seventh in relief of Odorizzi. After leading off the inning walking Jefry Marte, Jumbo followed with a wild pitch to get the go-ahead run into scoring position. After walking Maybin, Kevin Cash brings in hard-throwing Ryne Stanek, a rookie, to face Trout and Pujols. Trout, after Stanek falls behind 0-2, is intentionally walked. A wild pitch soon after would score the go-ahead run for the Angels and Cash would opt to intentionally walk Pujols after Stanek fell behind 3-1.
The score would remain 3-2 as the Rays bullpen combo of Stanek and Jose Alvarado would keep it close for the offense. Unfortunately, starter-turned-closer, Bud Norris would shut the Rays bats down and secure his ninth save of the season for the Halos.
NEXT UP:
- Tuesday night, the Rays send Alex Cobb (4-3, 3.67) to the hill v the Angels Matt Shoemaker (3-2, 4.47). First pitch set for 7:10 PM.
