Happy Thursday, everyone. The Rays were enjoying a fine spring day at the park against the Angels, with Zack Littell on the mound for the Rays up against Jose Soriano for the Angels.
After yesterday’s home run marathon, things got started in similar fashion today, with two pitches into the first and Littell gave up a solo bomb to Taylor Ward, out to right field. The next three outs put the Angels down in order, but they were first on the board. In the home half Junior Caminero got a two-out single, then advanced to second on a fielding error from Ward, who managed to bounce the outfield hit off of second base. Unfortunately even with a runner in scoring position, the Rays left him stranded.
Logan O’Hoppe doubled to start off the second, then Nolan Schanuel hit a ground-rule double to bring O’Hoppe home, putting the Angels up 2-0. Two outs followed, then Tim Anderson walked, but the Angels had to settle for just the one run. In the bottom of the second Kameron Misner got a one-out walk, but the Rays weren’t able to convert the run.
The third inning was a speedy 1-2-3 for both sides.
Top of the fourth saw the Angels go down in order. In the home half Caminero doubled to start things off, but this time the Rays were able to make good use of him as Jonathan Aranda singled to bring Caminero home. A strikeout and double play ended the inning with no additional runs to show for it, but the Rays had managed to cut the lead in half.
Home runs started to fly again in the fifth. Jo Adell got a leadoff solo home run, then Tim Anderson singled, legging out the run to first to avoid a tag play. Ward then got his second home run of the game, driving in two runs. Luid Rengifo singled, followed by a Mike Trout homer to bring the score up to 7-1. That was it for Littell who was replaced by Mason Englert. Englert finally got an out for the inning, followed by a single for O’Hoppe. Kyren Paris reached on catcher’s interference, then Jo Adell was back, and hit another home run to drive in three.
Jo Adell is the 3rd player in MLB History to have his first 2 home runs of the season come in the same inning
He joined Carlos Baerga in 1993 and Lou Bierbauer in 1890 https://t.co/vGaxe4l0Tz
— Blake Warye (@bwaryeofblake) April 10, 2025
The Rays finally got the third out of the inning after the order had batted around and the score was 10-1. The Rays weren’t able to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the inning, despite Caballero drawing a walk and Ben Rortvedt following one out later with a walk of his own. A double play ended the inning with no runs scored.
Genuine menace Taylor Ward singled to start the sixth. The Rays managed to limit the damage for this inning though, and got three outs to follow the single. Brandon Lowe got a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, but a strikeout and double play left him stranded. Familiar story.
O’Hoppe singled to start the seventh, but blessedly, much like the sixth the Rays followed the single with three outs. Too bad they went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, though.
Garrett Cleavinger came out for the Rays in the eighth, and with three fly balls, he worked through the Angels in order. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Curtis Mead was called on to pinch-hit for Yandy Diaz, and he singled, which was the end of the game for Soriano, who was replaced by Ryan Johnson. Johnson got the last out of the inning and it was onto the ninth for the Rays’ last chance to get something going.
Mike Trout homered to start the ninth. Jorge Soler then singled. A double play and a groundout ended the inning with only the one run to show for it. The Rays would have three batters to try to make a miracle happen. Caminero started things off with a single, but a double play and a strikeout ended things in short order.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Final: Angels 11, Rays 1