Rays take control in 4th inning to finish off sweep of Angels

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) --Jalen Beeks had quite a turnaround.

Beeks got his first major league win after a disastrous performance in his Tampa Bay debut, C.J. Cron had a two-run single and the Rays completed a three-game sweep by beating the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 on Thursday.

Poor play at Tropicana Field wasn't the only concern for the Angels, who have lost four straight overall. Star Mike Trout didn't play because of a bruised right wrist and is listed as day to day. The two-time MVP was hurt when he slid into third base during a stolen base attempt on Wednesday night.

"I caught my hand," Trout said. "Kind of weird. Felt like I just jammed it pretty bad. We taped it and tried to do as much as we could during the game (Wednesday). But when I woke up it was pretty sore."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Trout, who underwent treatment during the game, was not available off the bench.

"We'll take a look at it tomorrow and see what we have," Scioscia said.

Beeks (1-1), the second pitcher on a bullpen day, allowed two runs and two hits in five innings. The rookie left-hander, acquired from Boston for right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on July 25, gave up eight runs and 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings against Baltimore in his Tampa Bay debut Saturday.

"I think my stuff played a little better today just because I was attacking, I was in the zone more," Beeks said after his fourth career major league appearance. "A lot of pitches I had in the last outing weren't even close, weren't even competitive pitches."

Beeks struck out four. Both hits came during his final inning.

"It's amazing what throwing the ball over the plate and throwing strikes can do," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Tampa Bay's Hunter Wood struck out five and allowed one hit over the first two innings. Diego Castillo and Sergio Romo, who worked the ninth for his 13th save, completed the three-hitter.

The Rays are 20-4 (.833) at Tropicana Field since June 11, the best home record in the majors during that stretch.

Andrelton Simmons and Jefry Marte had run-scoring grounders in the seventh for Los Angeles, which has lost 20 of 27 away from home after starting the season 18-8 on the road.

Cron drove in two with a single during a four-run fourth off Andrew Heaney (6-7). The Rays were aided by two batters hit by pitches and a wild pitch that allowed Tommy Pham to score from third.

Pham, hit by a pitch from Heaney in the fourth, left after the sixth with a bruised right foot. X-rays were negative and the outfielder is day to day.

Heaney allowed four runs and six hits in six innings and dropped to 0-5 in 10 road starts.

"I don't think it was a lack of confidence, just a lack of execution and making bad pitches at the wrong time," Heaney said. "Obviously putting guys on without letting them earn it is going to hurt you eventually."

OHTANI OUT

Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for the second straight game, in part because regular first baseman Albert Pujols got a start as the DH on Thursday. Ohtani struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and has five hits in his last 37 at-bats.

MILESTONE NEARING

Pujols doubled in four at-bats and has an eight-game hitting streak. He is five hits away from becoming the ninth player to collect at least 1,000 hits in both the AL and NL. Those on the list include Dave Winfield, Frank Robinson and Vladimir Guerrero.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: Cash said ace Blake Snell (left shoulder fatigue) will rejoin the rotation on Saturday night. The left-hander's last outing came in the All-Star Game on July 17th.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Jaime Barria (6-7) will face Cleveland RHP Mike Clevinger (7-7) on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. Los Angeles has lost its last 10 road games against the Indians.

Rays: RHP Ryne Stanek (1-3) will start a bullpen game against Chicago White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (7-8) on Friday night to begin a three-game set.