Trout, Angels beat Rays in power-delayed game
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Jered Weaver had no problem sitting through two long delays Sunday on his way to a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
There was a 19-minute wait after lightning struck a nearby power substation, causing some lights to go out at Tropicana Field.
Even before then, the Los Angeles Angels' starting pitcher watched his team score five runs in a 46-pitch first inning off Rays starter Jake Odorizzi.
''I played a little catch in the cage to stay loose, but I guess you can't complain too much when they put five runs on the board in the first,'' Weaver said. ''It makes it a little easier.''
Mike Trout, who had three hits and stole a base, hit an RBI double to key the big inning, which also included an RBI single by Howie Kendrick after a 13-pitch at bat.
''I don't remember that. That was yesterday,'' Kendrick joked after the game that took about four hours.
''It was one of those things where the bases were loaded and you want to try to get something done. He was making good pitches, I was able to foul some off. I'm glad it ended the way it did,'' he said.
The Angels took two of three and handed the Rays their first series loss since early July.
Weaver (12-6) gave up six hits and four walks, but only two runs in six innings. He is 4-0 lifetime at Tropicana Field and unbeaten in his last nine starts.
Huston Street pitched the ninth for his sixth save with the Angels.
It took 20 minutes for Odorizzi (7-9) to get the first out of the game. That came after two walks, Trout's double and consecutive singles by Josh Hamilton, Erick Aybar and Kendrick.
''It started bad and didn't get any better in the first inning,'' Odorizzi said. ''You start a game like that, I didn't give our team any help at the start.''
The first of two sacrifice flies by David Freese and a double by Efren Navarro drove in the final two runs of the first inning.
Trout's second hit and Freese's second sacrifice fly drove in runs for the Angels later in the game.
James Loney, who has reached base in 22 straight games, had three hits and drove in two runs for the Rays. Tampa Bay left 12 runners on base.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Outfielder Collin Cowgill (broken nose) could be activated from the disabled list in the next couple days.
Rays: Catcher Ryan Hanigan (strained left oblique) felt soreness after his first rehab game Saturday with Single-A Charlotte and has been shut down for a week. ... Right fielder Wil Myers, out since May 31 with a broken right wrist, could start a rehab assignment Saturday.
ON DECK
Los Angeles: The Angels start a four-game stretch against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a two-game road series Monday night. The Angels have won 15 of the last 22 games between the teams.
Tampa Bay: The Rays open a 10-game road trip Monday night at Oakland. Manager Joe Maddon and the Rays often set a theme for the team's road swings, and this one is James Bond formal wear.
BOWDEN BALL
College football coaching great Bobby Bowden threw the ceremonial first pitch. He won two national championships at Florida State.
13 MORE
Kendrick's at-bat in the first, which included 10 foul balls, was one of two 13-pitch at bats in the game. Logan Forsythe walked on the 13th pitch from Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen to load the bases in the Tampa Bay seventh.