Mike Trout's 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mike Trout’s two-run homer highlighted a five-run outburst in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Monday night.
Trout gave the Angels a 2-1 lead with his seventh homer, a 111.1 mph, 420-foot shot down the left-field line off Pat Maton (0-1). Matt Thaiss extended the Angels’ lead to 5-1 with three-run double.
“We needed a big one at the right time and he came through, and it opened it up for everyone else,” Angels manager Ron Washington said.
It was Trout’s 17th game-tying or go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later. In his last 10 games against Tampa Bay, he is hitting ,472 (17 for 36) with eight home runs and 15 RBIs.
Taylor Ward added a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Kevin Kelly, extending the Los Angeles lead to 7-3. The 30-year-old outfielder has 19 RBIs this season.