Angels sweep 3 game set from the Devil Rays

September 17 - Anaheim Stadium

’80 California 12, ’07 Tampa Bay 6

Chris Knapp pitched his strongest outing of the season, yielding only 1 hit in 5 innings of work. The Angels’ 17-hit attack was led by Rick Miller, who had 4 hits, and Jason Thompson, who had 3. Akinori Iwamura had 2 hits for Tampa Bay, including a triple. But none of the Devil Rays pitchers were particularly effective, allowing the Angels to pull away as the game progressed.

September 18 - Anaheim Stadium

’80 California 3, ’07 Tampa Bay 2 (10 innings)

The best game of the series. Devil Rays centerfielder B.J. Upton hit his league-leading 11th HR in the 3rd inning to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead. California starter Alfredo Martinez bent a lot – yielding 5 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings – but never did break. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay starter James Shields held the Angels to only 1 hit – a lead off double by Rick Miller in the 3rd inning, which California turned into a run thanks to a Ty Wiggington error and a Jason Thompson sacrifice fly. The Angels then managed to tie the game in the 7th without the benefit of a hit. Don Baylor reached on a HBP with 2 outs, and the next 3 batters walked.

Tampa Bay had runners on each inning, but could never get the hit they needed to push across another run. Finally, in the bottom of the 10th inning, Rod Carew lead off with a walk, and scored the winning run moments later when Bobby Grich doubled. It was only the second Angels’ hit of the entire game. But it was nevertheless a walk-off at that.

September 19 - Tropicana Stadium

’80 California 10, ’07 Tampa Bay 6

California completed the series sweep scattering 11 hits, earning 10 walks and scoring in 6 different innings. The Angels gradually built an 8-3 after 7 and a half inning. But the Devil Rays scored 3 in t he bottom of the inning, sparked by a Johnny Gomes triple, to pull within 2 runs. But California iced it with 2 more insurance runs in the top of the 9th and Andy Hassler closed the game with his 5th save. Don Aase improved his W-L record to 5-1.

Series note: The Devil Rays inflicted a lot of self-damage, with only 3 successful steals in 11 attempts, and yielding a staggering 26 walks.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--