ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Manuel Margot flared a run-scoring single to right field to complete a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning and the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 on Thursday
Tampa Bay, which holds the top AL wild card, started the day 2 1/2 games behind AL East-leading Baltimore, which holds the tiebreaker. The Orioles were scheduled to play at Cleveland Thursday night.
Pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez and Yandy Díaz started the ninth with singles off Angels closer Carlos Estévez (5-5). Ramírez went to third on Curtis Mead’s fly ball and scored to tie it at 4 on Isaac Paredes RBI single.
After Randy Arozarena struck out and Josh Lowe walked to load the bases, Margot delievered his opposite-field game-winning hit.
Margot’s RBI double cut the Rays deficit to 4-3 in the sixth. Paredes also had a first-inning run-scorig double and has 92 RBIs.
Andrew Kittlredge (2-0) worked a scoreless ninth to get the win.
Rays starter Zach Eflin failed in his bid to become the AL's first 16-game winner. The right-hander allowed two runs, six hits and struck out 10 in five innings.
Jo Adell put the Angels ahead 4-2 on his sixth-inning two-run homer off Shawn Armstrong. who entered with a 39 2/3 innings homerless streak.
Eflin stayed in the game after taking Jared Walsh's 105.9 mph line drive infield single off his right leg with two outs in the fourth. After Adell walked, David Fletcher lined an RBI single that Lowe misplayed in right field to allow a second run to score as the Angels took a 2-1 lead.
Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe finished his at-bat after hitting a hard foul off his left knee in the seventh but left after the eighth.
Angels starter Griffin Canning gave up two runs and three hits over five innings.
FLASHING LEATHER
Angels 3B Michael Stefanic drove toward the line to snare Margot's 110.1 mph liner in the fourth.
FOOTBALL FRENZY
Rays reliever Robert Stephenson ran sprints in the outfield wearing a San Francisco 49ers helmet on and jersey of wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Stephenson is from San Francisco.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: RHP Tyler Anderson (knee discomfort) had his scheduled start Friday pushed back to Sunday
Rays: Manager Kevin Cash said OF Luke Raley (neck) is “going to miss some time.".. … Reliever Jason Adam (left oblique strain) returned from the 15-day IL.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Davis Daniel (0-0) will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake Friday night to go against Minnesota RHP Pablo López (10-8).
Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (9-6) will face Toronto on Friday night. Glasnow is 0-3 with a 6.88 ERA in eight starts against the Blue Jays. who hold the second AL wild card spot.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
