Luis Rengifo delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth, and the Los Angeles Angels edged the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Tuesday night, handing the Rays their fifth consecutive loss to open a 13-game homestand.
Kenley Jansen earned his third season save after working out of a tense ninth-inning jam. After back-to-back singles by Jake Mangum and Taylor Walls put runners on second and third with no outs, Jansen got Yandy Díaz to ground out to Rengifo, who threw Mangum at the plate. Jansen then struck out Brandon Lowe and José Caballero to end it, sealing the Angels’ third straight win.
Tampa Bay, playing home games at Steinbrenner Field while repairs continue at Tropicana Field following hurricane damage, fell to 4-3 at their temporary venue despite a crowd of 10,046 — their seventh straight sellout.
This series was initially scheduled in Anaheim, but MLB adjusted it to allow the Rays to play 19 of their first 22 games at home to minimize weather concerns at their open-air ballpark.
The Rays struggled with runners in scoring position, going just 2-for-13 and leaving nine on base, including seven in the final three innings. Pete Fairbanks (1-1) took the loss for Tampa Bay.
Kameron Misner was hit in the helmet by a 98.8 mph fastball from Brock Burke (2-0) in the eighth but remained in the game.
In the fifth, Kyren Paris launched a two-run homer off Shane Baz, his third of the season. A video review confirmed the ball cleared the fence without fan interference.
Tampa Bay rallied with three runs in the seventh off reliever Ben Joyce. Junior Caminero hit a solo homer, Christopher Morel followed with a game-tying double, and Misner added an RBI triple for a 3-2 lead.
The Rays briefly tied it again in the eighth on a Travis d’Arnaud groundout before Rengifo’s clutch single in the ninth put the Angels back on top for good.
Key Moment
Rays slugger Morel was ejected in the eighth by plate umpire Rob Drake after slamming his bat in frustration over a called third strike.
Key Stat
The Rays went hitless with runners in scoring position over the final two innings and are now 0-for-4 in their last four games with the go-ahead run on base in the ninth.
Up Next
Los Angeles sends LHP Yusei Kikuchi to the mound Wednesday, while Tampa Bay counters with RHP Ryan Pepiot.
