Rays bounce back, blank Angels
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Archer tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 3-0, in the second installment of a four-game series.
Archer (3-2) gave up two hits while striking out five and walking five for the Rays, who bounced back from Thursday's 6-5 loss.
"I tried to get six full out of (Archer)...but it worked out pretty well," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Yunel Escobar went 3-for-3 with a solo homer for Tampa Bay. Evan Longoria and James Loney each had an RBI.
Jered Weaver (4-3) allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and three walks for the Angels, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.
"This was the best start (Weaver's) had all season...but Archer had good stuff tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Escobar's homer to left-center field in the fifth made it 1-0 Tampa Bay.
The Angels left the bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning. Albert Pujols grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
Tampa Bay tacked on another run in the seventh. Longoria walked, stole second and raced home on Loney's single to right.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Rays scored again in the eighth. Desmond Jennings walked, moved to second on a Wil Myers walk and crossed the plate on Longoria's single to center. The RBI single snapped a string of 17 straight scoreless outings by Michael Kohn.
Joel Peralta pitched a scoreless eighth and Grant Balfour pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Weaver, who had won four of his previous five starts, fell to 4-4 lifetime against the Rays ... The Angels went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 ... Angels rookie infielder Luis Jimenez beat Tampa Bay pitcher David Price in the Halos' annual cow-milking contest.