It was Patrick Sandoval versus Zach Eflin for this game. It was very uneventful until the third inning when Jordyn Adams got his first major league hit.
The one other hit in the game through three was by Randy Arozarena. There were a few walks of course.
In the fourth inning, Isaac Paredes singled and Curtis Mead walked to put two men on with one out. Osleivis Basabe hit a ground rule double to make it 1-0 Rays. Josh Lowe hit an RBI ground out to make it 2-0 Rays. Jose Siri struck out. Patrick Sandoval was up to 67 pitches at this point. The Angels went three up three down.
In the fifth, after a couple of ground outs, Randy Arozarena reached on a fielding error by Jordyn Adams. Harold Ramirez and Isaac Paredes both singled resulting in a score of 3-0 Rays. Curtis Mead doubled to score Harold Ramirez. Isaac Paredes also scored after a successful challenge by the Rays of the initial call at the plate. 5-0 Rays. Curtis Mead made it to third on the play. Osleivis Basabe hit another double to score Mead. 6-0 Rays. Jaime Barria came in to pitch at this point, intentionally walked Josh Lowe, and struck out Jose Siri.
Hunter Renfroe hit a two out solo homer in the Angels fifth to save the Angels from being shut out.
Luis Rengifo then singled to bring up Jordyn Adams who got his second hit. Nolan Schanuel grounded out to end the inning. Three singles in a row by the Rays in the 6th inning loaded them up with no outs for Harold Ramirez, who doubled. 8-1 Rays. There was a mound visit whereupon Isaac Paredes homered. 11-1 Rays. No Problem! We got ’em right where we want ’em. Now we could send out a position player to pitch in the sixth inning.
Barria got Curtis Mead out but then walked Basabe. Josh Lowe hit a fly ball out to bring up Jose Siri who homered. 13-1 Rays. Christian Bethancourt showed some mercy by striking out.
Yandy Diaz singled to center and reached second on another error by Jordyn Adams. Randy Arozarena homered to make it 15-1 Rays. Harold Ramirez singled to right. Barria somehow got the next three guys out in a row to bring the Angels back up.
The Angels did nothing of note in their half of the seventh and sent in Jimmy Herget to pitch for Barria in the top of the eighth. Josh Lowe singled to welcome Herget to the game. Jose Siri struck out but Christian Bethancourt also singled. Jonathan Aranda walked to load them up with one out. Randy Arozarena struck out on ten pitches. Harold Ramirez singled to drive in two. 17-1 Rays. Isaac Paredes grounded out Schanuel to Herget.
The Rays brought in The Amazing Criswell to pitch. Nolan Schanuel celebrated with a single to right. Shohei Ohtani doubled but Schanuel only made it to third.
It’s OK. Brandon Drury homered. 17-4 Rays.
Velazquez, O’Hoppe, and Grichuk made quick outs to end the inning. Eduardo Escobar came in to pitch for Jimmy Herget. He got Mead out on a grounder but Basabe singled and then Escobar hit Josh Lowe. Jose Siri walked and then Christian Bethancourt hit a sac fly to left to score Basabe. 18-4 Tampa Bay. Jonathan Aranda grounded out to end the top of the ninth. Escobar was the best relief pitcher of the day for the Angels.
Hunter Renfroe grounded out. Luis Rengifo flied out to left. Jordyn Adams reached on a fielding error by third baseman Curtis Mead. Nolan Schanuel walked. Shohei Ohtani was replaced in the batting order by Eduardo Escobar. He grounded out finally to end this masterpiece. Angels lose 18-4.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
