by : Jay Recher
@jayRecher
After going 17 straight innings without a run, you figured the Rays would break out of it at some point.
And tonight they did just that as they used three home runs -- two from right fielder Steven Souza Jr. -- en route to a 5-2 victory over the Angels on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
The Angels took the lead in the 1st inning when Mike Trout doubled off of Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez and then Albert Pujols took him deep to left to give Los Angeles the 2-0 lead, but Tampa Bay answered back in the 2nd.
Logan Morrison led off the inning with a walk against Angels starter Ricky Nolasco, and then two batters later, Souza drilled a 2-0 pitch over the wall in center to tie the score at two.
The Rays took the lead in the 3rd when Kevin Kiermaier doubled in Corey Dickerson, who got the rally started with a double of his own.
The teams traded zeroes for the next couple of innings until the long ball did in Nolasco in the 7th.
Colby Rasmus led off the bottom half of the inning with a blast to right followed by a long homer by Souza to left to give the Rays a 5-2 lead and send the L.A. righty to the showers.
Nolasco (2-4) threw six innings and gave up seven hits, five runs, two walks and struck out six.
Ramirez (3-0) also went six innings giving up four hits, two runs, one walk, striking out two.
Alex Colome pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 12th save of the year.
What's Next For the Rays : The Rays are back in action tomorrow night as they host the Angels for the last game of this four-game series. Tampa Bay will send RHP Matt Andriese (4-1, 3.75) to the hill and Los Angeles will counter with RHP Alex Meyer (2-2, 5.79). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm with our coverage starting at Noon with the Inside Pitch ONLY on 620WDAE and 95.3FM, Home of the Rays!!