The Los Angeles Angels (23-36) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (35-20) 14-3 on Saturday evening at Tropicana Field to even the three game series at one game apiece.
The Angels jumped out to a big early lead when Wade Meckler hit a grand slam in the first inning. Yandy Diaz led off the bottom of the first with a home run that made it 4-1. The Angels got single runs in the fourth and fifth to make it 6-1, before the Rays got two back in the fifth inning to pull within 6-3.
That would be as close as the Rays would get - the Angels added one in the seventh inning before getting seven more in the ninth inning to turn the game into a blowout. Drew Rasmussen (4-2, 3.36) took the loss for the Rays, allowing five earned runs on four hits in four innings of work in which he struck out four and walked two.
The Rays and Angels now meet in the rubber game of the three game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1:40 PM - pregame coverage begins with This Week in Rays Baseball at high noon on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES