Recap: Tampa Bay vs. LA Angels
Sports Network | August 19, 2008
St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Eric Hinske and Cliff Floyd each hit two-run homers, as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 6-4, in the opener of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.
Willy Aybar finished 3-for-4 and scored two runs for the Rays, who have won eight of their last 10 games and own a 4 1/2 game lead over Boston in the AL East standings.
Andy Sonnanstine (13-6), who leads the Rays' staff in wins, gave up three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 frames to get the victory. Dan Wheeler pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.
"Felt like I pounded the zone and threw strikes," Sonnanstine said. "Just wish I went deeper into the game."
Juan Rivera homered and added a sacrifice fly for Los Angeles, which has dropped four of its last five games. Vladimir Guerrero had two hits and knocked in a run, while Garret Anderson had an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to 21 games.
Jon Garland (11-8) took the loss after he allowed five runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits over six innings.
"John (Garland) early on made some mistakes on some pitches early," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Those guys squared them up. I think there were too many hitting counts that he let Tampa Bay get into tonight."
Aybar singled to begin the second and Hinske clubbed a Garland offering over the right-center field wall for his 19th home run of the season and a 2-0 Rays lead.
After Rivera led off the next frame with a shot to left-center, Tampa countered with three runs in its turn at the plate.
Akinori Iwamura drew leadoff walk and came around to score on Floyd's two-out, two-run homer that cleared the wall in right. Aybar then singled before Hinske ripped a base hit that got past Guerrero in right. The fielding blunder allowed Aybar to cross the plate and Hinske to reach third, where he was stranded after Dioner Navarro grounded out to end the inning.
The Angels got two runs back in the sixth. Torii Hunter singled to open the frame and Anderson followed with an RBI double to the gap in left-center. Anderson then advanced to third on a Howie Kendrick fly ball and scurried home on a Rivera sac fly for a 5-3 game.
Los Angeles continued to chip away in the seventh. Erick Aybar had a one-out single, took second on a wild pitch and later scored on a base hit by Guerrero.
The Rays, though, picked up an insurance run in the eighth on Gabe Gross' run- scoring single.
Sonnanstine has won his last three decisions and is unbeaten in his last four trips to the mound...Tampa Bay's 46 home wins are the most in the majors...The Angels are 5-11 in their last 16 games at Tropicana Field...LA's Ervin Santana (13-5) and Tampa Bay's James Shields (10-7) are scheduled to start on Tuesday...Tampa Bay closer Troy Percival decided Monday not to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his injured right knee. Rather, the 39-year-old elected rehabilitation and anti-inflammatory medication.
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