2023 American League All-Star Randy Arozarena Sits Out as Tampa Bay Rays Edge Los Angeles Angels

In a thrilling matchup, the Tampa Bay Rays narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 in their four-game series. The Rays' Ryan Pepiot played a crucial role in securing the win despite battling stomach issues before the game.

Pepiot struck out seven batters and walked three, allowing two runs and four hits over 5-1/3 innings. Despite feeling physically fine on the mound, he admitted to being a bit tired. His impressive performance was praised by Rays manager Kevin Cash, who noted that Pepiot's effort was 'pretty strong.'

Meanwhile, Angels closer Ryan Pepiot allowed five consecutive batters to reach in blowing a save Wednesday night and has given up eight runs - seven earned - in eight games. This has led to concerns about his effectiveness as a closer, with an ERA of 8.05.

The Rays took an early lead when Harold Ramírez's sacrifice fly to right drove in Rosario to make it 2-0 in the opening inning against Griffin Canning (0-3). The Angels got within 2-1 in the sixth when Mike Trout walked, stole second and third, and scored on Miguel Sanó's sacrifice fly.

Tampa Bay's Colin Poche worked out of a jam with two on and two outs in the ninth for his second save in three chances. This marked another impressive outing for the Rays' bullpen, which has been a key factor in their success this season.

The win marked Tampa Bay's third consecutive victory, as they continue to show resilience and determination in their quest for a playoff spot. With stars like Randy Arozarena struggling at the plate, it will be interesting to see how the team adapts and finds ways to overcome these challenges.

In related news, the Rays have announced that they are sticking with Pete Fairbanks (0-2, 9.00 ERA) as their closer for now. This decision has sparked some debate among fans and pundits, who question whether Fairbanks is the right man for the job.

Overall, this matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels was a thrilling contest that showcased the skills of both teams' players. With Pepiot's impressive outing and Poche's clutch save, the Rays emerged victorious in their four-game series.

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