GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (63-87) at LA ANGELS (87-62)

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAMPA BAY (7) AT LA ANGELS (10) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- A Iwamura 3B, G Norton DH, C Pena 1B, B Upton CF,
D Young RF, B Harris 2B, J Gomes LF, D Navarro C, J Wilson SS, E Jackson RHP.

La Angels Starting Lineups -- C Figgins RF, O Cabrera SS, V Guerrero DH,
G Anderson LF, M Izturis 3B, C Kotchman 1B, H Kendrick 2B, J Mathis C,
N Haynes CF, K Escobar RHP.

Umpires -- Bruce Froemming (HP), Mark Wegner (1B), Brian Runge (2B),
Mike Winters (3B).

Gametime Weather: 71 degrees, Clear, wind out to center at 9 mph.


TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura singled to right. G Norton singled to right,
A Iwamura to third. C Pena struck out swinging. B Upton struck out swinging.
D Young singled to left, A Iwamura scored, G Norton to second. B Harris grounded
out to third. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 1, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 1ST: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera grounded into
fielder's choice to second, C Figgins out at second. V Guerrero struck out
swinging. G Anderson singled to center, O Cabrera to second. O Cabrera stole
third. M Izturis flied out to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 1,
LA ANGELS 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: J Gomes doubled to left. D Navarro singled to right,
J Gomes scored, D Navarro out stretching at second. J Wilson fouled out to
catcher. A Iwamura flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2,
LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: C Kotchman singled to center. H Kendrick grounded into
fielder's choice to second, C Kotchman safe at second on error by second
baseman B Harris. J Mathis struck out looking. N Haynes reached on infield
single to second, C Kotchman to third, H Kendrick to second. C Figgins
grounded out to first, C Kotchman scored, H Kendrick to third, N Haynes to
second. O Cabrera singled to center, H Kendrick and N Haynes scored, O Cabrera
to second advancing on throw. V Guerrero grounded out to third. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 2, LA ANGELS 3.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: G Norton struck out swinging. C Pena singled to right
center. B Upton walked, C Pena to second. C Pena to third, B Upton to second
on wild pitch by K Escobar. D Young grounded out to shortstop, C Pena scored,
B Upton to third. B Upton stole home. B Harris popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 3.

LA ANGELS 3RD: G Anderson doubled to right center. M Izturis singled to
center, G Anderson to third. C Kotchman singled to left center, G Anderson
scored, M Izturis to third. H Kendrick fouled out to first. J Mathis popped
out to first. N Haynes singled to left, M Izturis scored, C Kotchman to
second. C Kotchman picked off second.(2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4,
LA ANGELS 5.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: J Gomes fouled out to catcher. D Navarro grounded out to
shortstop. J Wilson popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 5.

LA ANGELS 4TH: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera lined into double
play, second to first, C Figgins doubled off first. V Guerrero singled to
center. G Anderson singled to deep right, V Guerrero to third. M Izturis
singled to right, V Guerrero scored, G Anderson to second. C Kotchman grounded
out to second. (1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 6.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: A Iwamura singled to center. G Norton doubled to deep
right, A Iwamura to third. C Pena walked. D Oliver relieved K Escobar.
B Upton safe at first on error by second baseman H Kendrick, A Iwamura scored,
G Norton to third, C Pena to second. D Young grounded into fielder's choice to
second, G Norton scored, B Upton out at second, C Pena to third. B Harris
flied out to center. J Gomes walked, D Young to second. D Navarro flied out
to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 6.

LA ANGELS 5TH: H Kendrick grounded out to shortstop. J Mathis grounded out
to second. N Haynes walked. C Figgins tripled to deep center, N Haynes
scored. G Balfour relieved E Jackson. O Cabrera lined out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 7.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: J Wilson grounded out to second. A Iwamura flied out to
right. G Norton doubled to center. C Pena singled to shallow right center,
G Norton to third. C Bootcheck relieved D Oliver. B Upton struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 7.

LA ANGELS 6TH: V Guerrero flied out to right. G Anderson walked.
M Izturis singled to center, G Anderson to third, G Anderson scored, M Izturis
to third on throwing error by center fielder B Upton. J Ridgway relieved
G Balfour. C Kotchman singled to center, M Izturis scored. H Kendrick tripled to
deep center, C Kotchman scored. S Dohmann relieved J Ridgway. J Mathis bunt
popped into double play, first to third, H Kendrick doubled off third.(3 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: J Speier relieved C Bootcheck. D Young grounded out to
third. B Harris hit by pitch. J Gomes struck out swinging. D Navarro singled
to left center, B Harris to second. Tampa Bay's Manager J Maddon ejected by
B Froemming. J Wilson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

LA ANGELS 7TH: J Salas relieved S Dohmann. N Haynes fouled out to third.
C Figgins struck out swinging. O Cabrera singled to center. V Guerrero popped
out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: S Shields relieved J Speier. A Iwamura grounded out to
first. G Norton grounded out to second. C Pena walked. B Upton singled to
center, C Pena to second. D Young grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

LA ANGELS 8TH: J Witasick relieved J Salas. G Anderson walked. M Izturis
flied out to center. C Kotchman walked, G Anderson to second. H Kendrick
flied out to right. J Mathis struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. B Harris tripled to deep
center. J Gomes struck out swinging. D Navarro hit sacrifice fly to left,
B Harris scored. J Wilson struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 7, LA ANGELS 10.</div>

 

Figgins leads way as Angels pound Devil Rays

<h3>LA ANGELS 10, TAMPA BAY 7</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels ofAnaheim rebounded from a disheartening loss against theirfavorite punching bag.


Chone Figgins, Orlando Cabrera and Casey Kotchman each drove ina pair of runs as the Angels pounded the Tampa Bay Devil Rays,10-7, in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Anaheim saw its bullpen yield eight runs in the final two-plusinning of Sunday's 9-7 loss to Chicago. However, the Angels didsome offensive damage of their own in this one, pounding EdwinJackson (4-15) for seven runs - four earned - and 14 hits in 42/3 innings.


Figgins snapped a 6-6 tie with a triple over center fielder B.J.Upton's head in the fifth inning that scored Nathan Haynes, andthe Angels added three more runs in the sixth en route to theirsixth straight win here and 11th in the last 14 meetings.

In the sixth, the Angels put the game away with three runsthanks in part to a throwing error by Upton. Garret Andersondrew a leadoff walk and Maicer Izturis singled to center. Uptonair-mailed the throw to third and it wound up in the DevilRays' dugout, allowing Anderson to score for an 8-6 lead.

Kotchman plated Izturis with a single and Howie Kendrick tripledto center to score Kotchman for a 10-6 lead.


The Angels' offensive explosion helped offset a poor outing byAmerican League Cy Young Award candidate Kelvim Escobar andreduced their magic number to clinch the American League West tofive.


Escobar was roughed up for six runs and eight hits in just fourinnings, with three strikeouts and two walks.


The bullpen, which was the goat on Sunday, turned in a stellarperformance in place of the ineffective Escobar, who entered17-7. Darren Oliver (3-0) allowed just two hits in 1 2/3innings and Chris Bootcheck got out of a first-and-third jam inthe sixth to preserve a 7-6 lead.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAMPA BAY (7) AT LA ANGELS (10) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura singled to right. G Norton singled to right,
A Iwamura to third. C Pena struck out swinging. B Upton struck out swinging.
D Young singled to left, A Iwamura scored, G Norton to second. B Harris grounded
out to third. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 1, LA ANGELS 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: J Gomes doubled to left. D Navarro singled to right,
J Gomes scored, D Navarro out stretching at second. J Wilson fouled out to
catcher. A Iwamura flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2,
LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: C Kotchman singled to center. H Kendrick grounded into
fielder's choice to second, C Kotchman safe at second on error by second
baseman B Harris. J Mathis struck out looking. N Haynes reached on infield
single to second, C Kotchman to third, H Kendrick to second. C Figgins
grounded out to first, C Kotchman scored, H Kendrick to third, N Haynes to
second. O Cabrera singled to center, H Kendrick and N Haynes scored, O Cabrera
to second advancing on throw. V Guerrero grounded out to third. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 2, LA ANGELS 3.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: G Norton struck out swinging. C Pena singled to right
center. B Upton walked, C Pena to second. C Pena to third, B Upton to second
on wild pitch by K Escobar. D Young grounded out to shortstop, C Pena scored,
B Upton to third. B Upton stole home. B Harris popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 3.

LA ANGELS 3RD: G Anderson doubled to right center. M Izturis singled to
center, G Anderson to third. C Kotchman singled to left center, G Anderson
scored, M Izturis to third. H Kendrick fouled out to first. J Mathis popped
out to first. N Haynes singled to left, M Izturis scored, C Kotchman to
second. C Kotchman picked off second.(2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4,
LA ANGELS 5.

LA ANGELS 4TH: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera lined into double
play, second to first, C Figgins doubled off first. V Guerrero singled to
center. G Anderson singled to deep right, V Guerrero to third. M Izturis
singled to right, V Guerrero scored, G Anderson to second. C Kotchman grounded
out to second. (1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 6.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: A Iwamura singled to center. G Norton doubled to deep
right, A Iwamura to third. C Pena walked. D Oliver relieved K Escobar.
B Upton safe at first on error by second baseman H Kendrick, A Iwamura scored,
G Norton to third, C Pena to second. D Young grounded into fielder's choice to
second, G Norton scored, B Upton out at second, C Pena to third. B Harris
flied out to center. J Gomes walked, D Young to second. D Navarro flied out
to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 6.

LA ANGELS 5TH: H Kendrick grounded out to shortstop. J Mathis grounded out
to second. N Haynes walked. C Figgins tripled to deep center, N Haynes
scored. G Balfour relieved E Jackson. O Cabrera lined out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 7.

LA ANGELS 6TH: V Guerrero flied out to right. G Anderson walked.
M Izturis singled to center, G Anderson to third, G Anderson scored, M Izturis to
third on throwing error by center fielder B Upton. J Ridgway relieved
G Balfour. C Kotchman singled to center, M Izturis scored. H Kendrick tripled to
deep center, C Kotchman scored. S Dohmann relieved J Ridgway. J Mathis bunt
popped into double play, first to third, H Kendrick doubled off third.(3 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. B Harris tripled to deep
right. J Gomes struck out swinging. D Navarro hit sacrifice fly to left,
B Harris scored. J Wilson struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 7, LA ANGELS 10.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAMPA BAY (7) AT LA ANGELS (10) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- A Iwamura 3B, G Norton DH, C Pena 1B, B Upton CF,
D Young RF, B Harris 2B, J Gomes LF, D Navarro C, J Wilson SS, E Jackson RHP.

La Angels Starting Lineups -- C Figgins RF, O Cabrera SS, V Guerrero DH,
G Anderson LF, M Izturis 3B, C Kotchman 1B, H Kendrick 2B, J Mathis C,
N Haynes CF, K Escobar RHP.

Umpires -- Bruce Froemming (HP), Mark Wegner (1B), Brian Runge (2B),
Mike Winters (3B).

Gametime Weather: 71 degrees, Clear, wind out to center at 9 mph.


TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura singled to right. G Norton singled to right,
A Iwamura to third. C Pena struck out swinging. B Upton struck out swinging.
D Young singled to left, A Iwamura scored, G Norton to second. B Harris grounded
out to third. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 1, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 1ST: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera grounded into
fielder's choice to second, C Figgins out at second. V Guerrero struck out
swinging. G Anderson singled to center, O Cabrera to second. O Cabrera stole
third. M Izturis flied out to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 1,
LA ANGELS 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: J Gomes doubled to left. D Navarro singled to right,
J Gomes scored, D Navarro out stretching at second. J Wilson fouled out to
catcher. A Iwamura flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2,
LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: C Kotchman singled to center. H Kendrick grounded into
fielder's choice to second, C Kotchman safe at second on error by second
baseman B Harris. J Mathis struck out looking. N Haynes reached on infield
single to second, C Kotchman to third, H Kendrick to second. C Figgins
grounded out to first, C Kotchman scored, H Kendrick to third, N Haynes to
second. O Cabrera singled to center, H Kendrick and N Haynes scored, O Cabrera
to second advancing on throw. V Guerrero grounded out to third. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 2, LA ANGELS 3.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: G Norton struck out swinging. C Pena singled to right
center. B Upton walked, C Pena to second. C Pena to third, B Upton to second
on wild pitch by K Escobar. D Young grounded out to shortstop, C Pena scored,
B Upton to third. B Upton stole home. B Harris popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 3.

LA ANGELS 3RD: G Anderson doubled to right center. M Izturis singled to
center, G Anderson to third. C Kotchman singled to left center, G Anderson
scored, M Izturis to third. H Kendrick fouled out to first. J Mathis popped
out to first. N Haynes singled to left, M Izturis scored, C Kotchman to
second. C Kotchman picked off second.(2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4,
LA ANGELS 5.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: J Gomes fouled out to catcher. D Navarro grounded out to
shortstop. J Wilson popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 5.

LA ANGELS 4TH: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera lined into double
play, second to first, C Figgins doubled off first. V Guerrero singled to
center. G Anderson singled to deep right, V Guerrero to third. M Izturis
singled to right, V Guerrero scored, G Anderson to second. C Kotchman grounded
out to second. (1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, LA ANGELS 6.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: A Iwamura singled to center. G Norton doubled to deep
right, A Iwamura to third. C Pena walked. D Oliver relieved K Escobar.
B Upton safe at first on error by second baseman H Kendrick, A Iwamura scored,
G Norton to third, C Pena to second. D Young grounded into fielder's choice to
second, G Norton scored, B Upton out at second, C Pena to third. B Harris
flied out to center. J Gomes walked, D Young to second. D Navarro flied out
to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 6.

LA ANGELS 5TH: H Kendrick grounded out to shortstop. J Mathis grounded out
to second. N Haynes walked. C Figgins tripled to deep center, N Haynes
scored. G Balfour relieved E Jackson. O Cabrera lined out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 7.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: J Wilson grounded out to second. A Iwamura flied out to
right. G Norton doubled to center. C Pena singled to shallow right center,
G Norton to third. C Bootcheck relieved D Oliver. B Upton struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 7.

LA ANGELS 6TH: V Guerrero flied out to right. G Anderson walked.
M Izturis singled to center, G Anderson to third, G Anderson scored, M Izturis
to third on throwing error by center fielder B Upton. J Ridgway relieved
G Balfour. C Kotchman singled to center, M Izturis scored. H Kendrick tripled to
deep center, C Kotchman scored. S Dohmann relieved J Ridgway. J Mathis bunt
popped into double play, first to third, H Kendrick doubled off third.(3 Runs,
3 Hits, 1 Error) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: J Speier relieved C Bootcheck. D Young grounded out to
third. B Harris hit by pitch. J Gomes struck out swinging. D Navarro singled
to left center, B Harris to second. Tampa Bay's Manager J Maddon ejected by
B Froemming. J Wilson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

LA ANGELS 7TH: J Salas relieved S Dohmann. N Haynes fouled out to third.
C Figgins struck out swinging. O Cabrera singled to center. V Guerrero popped
out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: S Shields relieved J Speier. A Iwamura grounded out to
first. G Norton grounded out to second. C Pena walked. B Upton singled to
center, C Pena to second. D Young grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

LA ANGELS 8TH: J Witasick relieved J Salas. G Anderson walked. M Izturis
flied out to center. C Kotchman walked, G Anderson to second. H Kendrick
flied out to right. J Mathis struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 6, LA ANGELS 10.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. B Harris tripled to deep
right. J Gomes struck out swinging. D Navarro hit sacrifice fly to left,
B Harris scored. J Wilson struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 7, LA ANGELS 10.</div>

 

Figgins leads way as Angels pound Devil Rays

<h3>LA ANGELS 10, TAMPA BAY 7</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels ofAnaheim rebounded from a disheartening loss against theirfavorite punching bag.


Chone Figgins, Orlando Cabrera and Casey Kotchman each drove ina pair of runs as the Angels pounded the Tampa Bay Devil Rays,10-7, in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Anaheim saw its bullpen yield eight runs in the final two-plusinning of Sunday's 9-7 loss to Chicago. However, the Angels didsome offensive damage of their own in this one, pounding EdwinJackson (4-15) for seven runs - four earned - and 14 hits in 42/3 innings.


"Our offense is just clicking right now and it's a good time inthe year to hit like this," Figgins said. "Just hope we cankeep swinging the bats like this for about another month and ahalf."


Figgins snapped a 6-6 tie with a triple over center fielder B.J.Upton's head in the fifth inning that scored Nathan Haynes, andthe Angels added three more runs in the sixth en route to theirsixth straight win here and 11th in the last 14 meetings.

"I saw him playing shallow so I just wanted to hit the ball hardsomewhere in the gap but I got enough that it went over hishead," Figgins said.


In the sixth, the Angels put the game away with three runsthanks in part to a throwing error by Upton. Garret Andersondrew a leadoff walk and Maicer Izturis singled to center. Uptonair-mailed the throw to third and it wound up in the DevilRays' dugout, allowing Anderson to score for an 8-6 lead.

"It just got away from me," Upton said. "I knew Figgins wasrunning so I had to hurry and make a throw and I just rushed thethrow and it got away."


Kotchman plated Izturis with a single and Howie Kendrick tripledto center to score Kotchman for a 10-6 lead.


"He's (Anderson) one of the main reasons why their offense isclicking right now," Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Theyremind of the the championship team in 2002 with how everyone inthe lineup is hitting."


The Angels' offensive explosion helped offset a poor outing byAmerican League Cy Young Award candidate Kelvim Escobar andreduced their magic number to clinch the American League West tofive.


"I just haven't been pitching like I have been all year lately,and I need to make some adjustments and get it going again,"Escobar said.


Escobar was roughed up for six runs and eight hits in just fourinnings, with three strikeouts and two walks.


"I fell behind a lot of batters and that got my pitch count uphigh," Escobar said. "Seems like I was always working withrunners on base."


The bullpen, which was the goat on Sunday, turned in a stellarperformance in place of the ineffective Escobar, who entered17-7. Darren Oliver (3-0) allowed just two hits in 1 2/3innings and Chris Bootcheck got out of a first-and-third jam inthe sixth to preserve a 7-6 lead.


"They (bullpen) did a good job coming out there tonight andbouncing back from some rough outings over the weekend," Angelsmanager Mike Scoscia said.