Angels Aim To Even Series Against Rays After Brutal Seventh Inning In Opener

The Los Angeles Angels were leading the American League-best Tampa Bay Rays through six innings in the series opener Friday but fell 8-5.

After Rays first baseman/designated hitter Yandy Diaz hit a leadoff home run, the Angels responded with RBI singles from first baseman Vaughn Grissom in the third and shortstop Zach Neto in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead.

That lead would be squandered in the seventh inning, when Tampa Bay tacked on a seven-spot to take an 8-2 lead. Grissom, right fielder Jo Adell and left fielder Wade Meckler drove in a trio of runs in the eighth inning, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.

22-year-old right-hander Walbert Urena was incredible yet again, but the Angels couldn’t take advantage of his start. Urena pitched six innings and allowed one run on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts, leaving in line for a win.

Rays righty Nick Martinez had another brilliant start for Tampa Bay, earning the win after allowing two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn took the loss, as he gave up four earned runs on three hits and a walk in just 0.1 innings. The bullpen has had a tough time this season and that trend continued last night.

The Halos aim to nod up the series when left-hander Reid Detmers meets Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen in Game 2 Saturday.

Detmers hasn’t had a lot of success since rejoining the starting rotation this year, but he has racked up a ton of strikeouts. The 26-year-old is 1-5 with a 4.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP with 75 strikeouts (tied-eighth) through 11 starts (63 innings).

Detmers last pitched against the Texas Rangers and was outstanding, tossing eight innings of one-run ball on one hit (home run) and 14 strikeouts, a new career-high. His command has been an issue at times, but his ability to strike out guys at a high clip makes him effective. Detmers will face the following Rays lineup:

1. Diaz (DH)

2. Jonathan Aranda (1B)

3. Junior Caminero (3B)

4. Ryan Vilade (RF)

5. Chandler Simpson (LF)

6. Ben Williamson (2B)

7. Nick Fortes (C)

8. Cedric Mullins (CF)

9. Taylor Walls (SS)

Rasmussen has been dealing this season, going 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 51 strikeouts through 10 starts (55 innings). He last worked against the New York Yankees and threw seven scoreless innings on five hits and one walk while fanning six. Rasmussen will face the following Angels lineup:

1. Neto (SS)

2. Mike Trout (CF)

3. Grissom (1B)

4. Jorge Soler (DH)

5. Meckler (LF)

6. Adell (RF)

7. Oswald Peraza (2B)

8. Donovan Walton (3B)

9. Sebastian Rivero (C)

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.

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