Angels lose three to Rays

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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had a day off Monday after being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays at Angels Stadium in a three-game series over the weekend. The Angels have had a tough start to the season.

Their record is 13-18 and they are five games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners.

Part of the poor record has been injuries. They found out early Monday that pitcher Garrett Richards will miss the rest of the season and their shortstop, Andrelton Simmons, injured his glove hand (left) shagging a ground ball in the third inning Sunday. Three other pitchers are on the D.L.: including C.J. Wilson, Huston Street and Andrew Heaney.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout
Angels outfielder Mike Trout

But every team goes through injury problems. The Angels aren’t blaming their record on injuries. As Mike Trout said Sunday after their 3-1 loss to the Rays, they are just going through a slump and they have confidence they will turn it around soon.

Rays pitcher Matt Andriese, who is from Redlands, made his season debut on Sunday, in front of family and friends. He threw seven innings, giving up only four hits and one run.

Shortstop Brad Miller hit a town-run homer in the third, scoring catcher Curt Casali. In the fifth Casali then ht a solo homerun.

Albert Pujols hit a sacrifice that scored Kole Calhoun in the first inning Sunday, for the Angels only run in the game.

On Tuesday the Angels will face the St. Louis Cardinals to start a three-game series in Angels Stadium.

Claudia Gestro covered the series and provided this video.

Photos by Claudia Gestro