Rays look more like themselves in beating Angels, winning series

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on May 31, 2026

Published in Baseball

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Sunday was more like it for the Rays.

After an admittedly ugly performance in a lopsided loss on Saturday, the Rays looked more like the team that has been leading the American League for the last three-plus weeks in a 5-2 series-clinching win over the Angels.

Shane McClanahan gave them another strong start, allowing one run and four hits over five innings, and three relievers held the lead.

There was some dazzling defense, with shortstop Taylor Walls going deep in the hole and third baseman Junior Caminero diving to make highlight-worthy plays.

And the offense did just enough, in its typical diverse style, scoring on a home run, two RBI singles and two bases-loaded walks.

The Rays improved their American League-leading record to 36-20, winning their sixth straight series at Tropicana Field. They are a majors-best 21-6 at home.

They finished May 18-8 which, following their 18-12 March/April (those months are combined for MLB record-keeping), marked the first time in franchise history they won 18 or more games in back-to-back months in a season.

Also of note, they finished the month leading the AL East. The four other times they did that — 2008, 2010, 2021 and 2023 — they went to the playoffs.

In the first inning Sunday, Jonathan Aranda drove a 1-2 fastball over the rightfield fence to give the Rays a 1-0 lead with his 11th homer.

In the third, they loaded the bases against Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz with walks by Aranda and Richie Palacios, and Caminero hustling to beat the throw to first for an infield single.

A one-out single by Victor Mesa Jr., a recent call-up with Jake Fraley injured, scored one run. A five-pitch walk by Cedric Mullins forced in another.

The Rays looked like they would get four more when Taylor Walls lofted a two-out fly ball down the leftfield line. But ex-Ray Jose Siri timed his jump well and reached over the short wall to make the catch.

They got two more in the seventh, with a combination of Chander Simpson’s speed, a clutch pinch-hit single by Ben Williamson and a bases-loaded walk by Yandy Diaz.

McClanahan gave up just the one run, which scored on a wild pitch in the second. Siri singled with two outs, then Logan O’Hoppe doubled. Siri scored when McClanahan bounced an 0-1 curveball to Nick Madrigal, but the Rays lefty quelled the rally.

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