ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays are still waiting to get back a few more big pieces from the injured list, such as shortstop Wander Franco, high-leverage reliever JP Feyereisen and, maybe, star pitcher Tyler Glasnow.
But they should be feeling pretty good about where they are now.
With Tuesday’s 11-1 victory over the Angels, the Rays won their fourth straight and ninth of 11, improved to a season-high 12 games over .500 at 67-55, holding on to the top spot in the American League wild-card race.
The Rays broke open what had been a tight game with a six-run, 11-batter seventh, their second most prolific inning of the season. Catcher Christian Bethancourt had the biggest night for the Rays, driving in three runs, including a homer in his third straight game, then he pitched the ninth inning.
Veteran Corey Kluber gave the Rays a strong six-inning start, holding the Angels to one run — a Mike Trout homer off the C-ring catwalk in the sixth inning. Kluber was effective, scattering five hits and not walking any, and efficient, throwing just 78 pitches, including six in the fourth and nine in the fifth.
It was Kluber’s first start since July 6 that he allowed fewer than two runs, and the fourth in that eight-game span when he allowed fewer than four.
The Rays took a 2-0 lead with a quick rally in the third against Angels lefty starter Jose Suarez.
Jose Siri got them started with a sharp grounder that third baseman Jose Rojas couldn’t handle and misplayed into a double.
Siri went to third on Yandy Diaz’s fly out, then scored when Manuel Margot singled crisply through the drawn-in infield. They got another run on two more singles, by Randy Arozarena and Harold Ramirez, who extended his post-injury hitting streak to seven games.
After the Angels cut the margin to 2-1 on Trout’s homer — his 1,500th hit in the majors — the Rays added on with a pair of solo homers.
Isaac Paredes hit one in the sixth, his first since July 26th and 15th overall.
Then Bethancourt went deep in the seventh, his third straight start with a homer, giving him eight for the season between the A’s and Rays.
The Rays kept adding on in the seventh. Diaz, who has definitely warmed again, doubled in Siri, who reached on a Strike Three passed ball. After Margot and Paredes walked, Taylor Walls laced a two-run single. Then after another walk to Yu Chang, Bethancourt blooped in a single over shortstop that scored two more.
Doubles by Margot and Arozarena got the Rays two more in the eighth.
