Rays Drop Finale Against Angels 6-5

May 1, 2011

v. Los Angeles Angels

Attendance: 16,248

W: Rich Thompson (1-1) 2.51 ERA

L: Joel Peralta (1-1) 2.70 ERA

S: Jordan Walden (5) 0.68 ERA

Summary:

The Rays got a big break today, or last night, as Angels’ ace Jered Weaver was suffering from a stomach virus. He was originally scheduled to start today, but was scratched. He is 6-0 with a 0.99 ERA. So yeah, the Rays were lucky to miss him. Not only that, but now Weaver will mostly likely made a start tomorrow against Boston.

Tyler Chatwood instead made the start for the Angels and the Rays torched him for five runs in the first. They batted around, getting seven hits with five singles and two doubles. It looked like the Rays were on their way to another easy win.
 

Alex Cobb, making his major league debut, kept the Angels off the board through four except for a Hank Conger homer in the second. Cobb got through the third and fourth on only 16 pitches combined, so he showed some good command. In the fifth, however, he lost it quite suddenly and Joe Maddon had to take him out in favor of Andy Sonnanstine. That didn’t prevent the Angels from scoring four times and tying the game at 5-5. One of the runs scored on a steal attempt that catcher John Jaso threw away with a runner at third.

It was a battle of the bullpens very early and ultimately the Angels’ bullpen won out. With Joel Peralta on the mound for the Rays, Torii Hunter hammered a double into the left field gap. He moved to third on a wild pitch. Vernon Wells walked. Conger came up and hit a ball slowly enough on the infield that allowed the eventual winning run to score.

The Rays were never able to add to their total and a lot of credit has to go to Chatwood (who settled down nicely) and company. The Rays never really had much of an opportunity.

Players of the Game: The Angels bullpen who shut the Rays down for the last five innings of the game. Rich Thompson, who was credited for the win, struck out three in an inning. Jordan Walden closed out the game throwing in the high 90’s.