Wednesday, 4 a.m.
It came like a storm, vicious and without warning. It didn’t last long. There was no promise that it would return.
But for one inning, the Rays’ offense was lethal again.
And the way things are going, one inning is enough.
The Rays erupted in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s 7-3 win over the Los Angelos Angels. They came into the inning without a hit, and they piled up seven runs and seven hits in one of their most impressive half-innings of the season.
Afterward, they managed only one hit, and no more runs. But the seven-spot was enough for the Rays to snap a four-game losing streak.
The Angels scored three runs afterward, including two on a home run by Jo Adell.
Still, it was rejuvenating for the Rays. Yandy Diaz reached on a bounding infield hit, and Brandon Lowe hit a 411-foot homer run, his 20th of the year.
Afterward, Junior Caminero singled and Josh Lowe doubled. Jake Mangum then had a bounding single to bring home both runners.
Taylor Walls drove in Mangum with a sacrifice bunt. Chandler Simpson drove home another run on a double to left. Diaz then drove in another run with a ground out to second.
Starter Ryan Pepiot gave up five hits in the fifth and sixth, but the bullpen was strong.
The Rays and Angels conclude their series today at 4:07 p.m. Shane Baz will start for the Rays against Tyler Anderson.