Los Angeles Angels vs. Tampa Bay Rays Match Series Analysis: 2025 MLB Season

The Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays concluded their 2025 interleague series with a three-game set from August 4–6 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, where the Rays rallied from an opening loss to claim a 2–1 victory. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the matchups, sourced from verified outlets including ESPN, Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com, and CBSSports.com. The Angels started strong with a 5–1 win on August 4, powered by Jo Adell’s two-run homer and Yusei Kikuchi’s six-inning gem, but Tampa Bay responded with a 7–3 rout on August 5 (seven-run fourth inning) and a 5–4 nail-biter on August 6 (Junior Caminero’s two homers). Below, we examine each game through summaries, verified player stats, pitching stats, and critical moments, with broader series context.

Game Highlights

• Sport: Baseball
• League: MLB (Major League Baseball)
• Matchup: Los Angeles Angels vs Tampa Bay Rays Match Player Stats
• Games Covered:
  • Game 1: August 4, 2025
  • Game 2: August 5, 2025
  • Game 3: August 6, 2025
• Series Result: Rays won the series 2–1

Series Overview: Los Angeles Angels vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 2025 MLB Season

The Rays overcame a 5–1 deficit in Game 1 to outscore the Angels 12–7 over the final two contests, securing wins of 7–3 on August 5 and 5–4 on August 6 for a 2–1 series triumph. Tampa Bay’s offense tallied 22 hits and five home runs across the set, highlighted by Brandon Lowe’s two-run homer and Jake Mangum’s two-run single in Game 2’s decisive seventh inning, and Junior Caminero’s 29th and 30th homers in Game 3. The Angels slugged three homers but stranded 17 runners and committed two errors in the losses. Below is a summary of the results:

• Game 1 (August 4, 2025): Los Angeles Angels 5, Tampa Bay Rays 1
• Game 2 (August 5, 2025): Tampa Bay Rays 7, Los Angeles Angels 3
• Game 3 (August 6, 2025): Tampa Bay Rays 5, Los Angeles Angels 4

The series left the Angels at 55–61 (fifth in AL West) and the Rays at 61–64 (fourth in AL East), reflecting both teams’ mid-pack struggles.

Game 1: Los Angeles Angels 5, Tampa Bay Rays 1 (August 4, 2025)

Game Summary

The Angels halted a three-game skid with a 5–1 victory, building a 5–0 lead by the third inning on Jo Adell’s two-run homer and Taylor Ward’s two-run single, while Yusei Kikuchi scattered four hits over six innings. Tampa Bay scored once in the first on Yandy Díaz’s double and Junior Caminero’s sacrifice fly but managed just three more hits and left six on base. Attendance: 25,754; game time: 2:33.

Key Player Stats: Los Angeles Angels

• Jo Adell (RF): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 2B, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO. Adell’s second-inning two-run homer off Adrian Houser (428 feet to left-center) gave a 2–1 lead.
• Taylor Ward (LF): 2-for-4, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 SO. Ward’s third-inning single drove in Nolan Schanuel and Mike Trout for a 4–1 cushion.
• Nolan Schanuel (1B): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB (HBP), 0 SO. Schanuel was hit by a pitch and scored on Ward’s hit.
• Mike Trout (DH): 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 SO. Trout doubled in the third and scored Ward’s RBI.
• Yusei Kikuchi (P, Win 5–7): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 HR, 2 BB, 7 SO, 92 pitches (3.86 ERA). Kikuchi struck out seven and escaped a first-inning jam.
• Inactives: None reported.

Team Stats: 11 H, 1 HR, 15 TB, 5 LOB, 0 E, 5 R (5 ER), 4 H allowed, 1 R allowed (1 ER), 0 HR allowed. Angels went 3-for-8 with RISP, drawing two walks and one HBP.

Key Player Stats: Tampa Bay Rays

• Yandy Díaz (1B): 1-for-4, 1 2B, 0 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 SO. Díaz doubled in the first and scored on Caminero’s fly.
• Junior Caminero (3B): 0-for-3, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO. Caminero’s sacrifice fly plated the lone run.
• Adrian Houser (P, Loss 6–3): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 SO, 88 pitches (4.91 ERA). Houser surrendered Adell’s homer and Ward’s single.
• Inactives: None reported.

Team Stats: 5 H, 0 HR, 6 TB, 6 LOB, 0 E, 1 R (1 ER), 11 H allowed, 5 R allowed (5 ER), 1 HR allowed. Rays stranded six, including a runner at third in the fourth.

Critical Moments

• Top 1st (TB 1, LAA 0): Díaz doubled and scored on Caminero’s sacrifice fly.
• Bottom 2nd (TB 1, LAA 2): Adell’s two-run homer.
• Bottom 3rd (TB 1, LAA 5): Schanuel HBP, Trout double, Ward two-run single.

Game 2: Tampa Bay Rays 7, Los Angeles Angels 3 (August 5, 2025)

Game Summary

The Rays erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning to secure a 7–3 win, with Brandon Lowe’s two-run homer and Jake Mangum’s two-run single highlighting the frame, while Ryan Pepiot pitched six innings of two-run ball to snap his five-start winless streak. Jo Adell drove in all three Angels runs with a two-run homer and RBI single, but José Soriano faltered after three hitless innings. Attendance: 27,018; game time: 2:23.

Key Player Stats: Tampa Bay Rays

• Brandon Lowe (2B): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO. Lowe’s fourth-inning two-run homer (411 feet to center) sparked the seven-run outburst.
• Jake Mangum (CF): 1-for-4, 1 RBI (two-run single), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 BB, 0 SO. Mangum’s single capped the inning.
• Yandy Díaz (1B): 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 BB, 0 SO. Díaz’s RBI grounder contributed to the rally.
• Ryan Pepiot (P, Win 7–9): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 HR, 2 BB, 4 SO, 95 pitches (4.79 ERA). Pepiot allowed Adell’s homer but escaped jams.
• Inactives: None reported.

Team Stats: 8 H, 1 HR, 11 TB, 4 LOB, 2 E, 7 R (7 ER), 6 H allowed, 3 R allowed (3 ER), 1 HR allowed. Rays went 5-for-10 with RISP in the fourth.

Key Player Stats: Los Angeles Angels

• Jo Adell (RF): 2-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 2B, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO. Adell’s fifth-inning two-run homer and sixth-inning RBI single produced all runs.
• Christian Moore (2B): 1-for-3, 0 RBI, 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 BB, 0 SO. Moore doubled but was left at third in the fifth.
• Logan O’Hoppe (C): 0-for-3, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO. O’Hoppe was thrown out at home on Moore’s double.
• José Soriano (P, Loss 7–9): 3.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R (7 ER), 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 SO, 72 pitches (9.45 ERA). Soriano allowed the seven-run fourth.
• Inactives: None reported.

Team Stats: 6 H, 1 HR, 9 TB, 7 LOB, 0 E, 3 R (3 ER), 8 H allowed, 7 R allowed (7 ER), 1 HR allowed. Angels hit into two double plays.

Critical Moments

• Top 4th (TB 7, LAA 0): Seven-run inning featuring Lowe’s homer, Mangum’s single, and Díaz’s grounder.
• Bottom 5th (TB 7, LAA 2): Adell’s two-run homer.
• Bottom 6th (TB 7, LAA 3): Adell’s RBI single.

Game 3: Tampa Bay Rays 5, Los Angeles Angels 4 (August 6, 2025)

Game Summary

The Rays capped the series with a 5–4 win, as Junior Caminero belted his 29th and 30th homers and Christopher Morel delivered a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh, with six pitchers combining for 16 strikeouts. Shane Baz struck out nine in four innings before Garrett Cleavinger earned the win; Mike Trout’s three-run homer tied it in the third, but the Angels loaded the bases in the eighth only to strand them. Attendance: 22,064; game time: 2:53.

Key Player Stats: Tampa Bay Rays

• Junior Caminero (3B): 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 SO. Caminero’s first-inning two-run homer (447 feet) and third-inning solo shot built a 4–0 lead.
• Christopher Morel (DH): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 SO. Morel’s seventh-inning solo homer (his first hit after 0-for-6 in series) made it 5–3.
• Yandy Díaz (1B): 1-for-4, 0 RBI, 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 BB, 1 SO. Díaz singled to set up Morel’s homer.
• Shane Baz (P): 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 HR, 1 BB, 9 SO, 72 pitches (4.79 ERA). Baz fanned nine before exiting.
• Pete Fairbanks (P, Save 19): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 15 pitches (2.25 ERA). Fairbanks struck out the side in the ninth.
• Inactives: None reported.

Team Stats: 8 H, 3 HR, 17 TB, 6 LOB, 1 E, 5 R (5 ER), 6 H allowed, 4 R allowed (4 ER), 1 HR allowed. Rays went 2-for-8 with RISP, with 16 total strikeouts.

Key Player Stats: Los Angeles Angels

• Mike Trout (DH): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 SO. Trout’s third-inning three-run homer (his 20th) tied it at 4–4.
• Jo Adell (RF): 1-for-4, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO. Adell’s single loaded the bases in the eighth.
• Taylor Ward (LF): 1-for-3, 0 RBI, 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 BB, 1 SO. Ward walked and scored in the first.
• Ryan Zeferjahn (P, Loss 6–4): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 HR, 2 BB, 6 SO, 85 pitches (4.50 ERA). Zeferjahn allowed Caminero’s homers.
• Inactives: None reported.

Team Stats: 6 H, 1 HR, 9 TB, 8 LOB, 1 E, 4 R (4 ER), 8 H allowed, 5 R allowed (5 ER), 3 HR allowed. Angels went 2-for-9 with RISP, stranding the bases loaded in the eighth.

Critical Moments

• Top 1st (TB 2, LAA 0): Caminero’s two-run homer.
• Top 3rd (TB 3, LAA 0): Caminero’s solo homer.
• Bottom 3rd (TB 3, LAA 3): Trout’s three-run homer.
• Top 7th (TB 4, LAA 3): Morel’s go-ahead solo homer.
• Bottom 8th (TB 5, LAA 3): Angels loaded bases but failed to score.

Head-to-Head Analysis

The Rays’ 2–1 series win improved their all-time interleague record against the Angels to 95–82 since 1999. In this set, Tampa Bay outscored Los Angeles 13–9 (+4 margin), batting .267 to .250 while allowing three home runs to five. The Rays’ bullpen excelled with a 2.25 ERA (three earned runs in 12 innings) and 20 strikeouts, while Angels starters posted a 4.50 ERA. Tampa Bay succeeded 7-for-25 with RISP (.280) versus the Angels’ 5-for-19 (.263), with their seven-run inning in Game 2 proving pivotal. Both teams committed three errors total, but the Rays converted 16 strikeouts into momentum.

In 2025, the Rays thrived on:

• Power Hitting: Five home runs, including Caminero’s multi-homer game.
• Bullpen Dominance: 2.25 ERA, 20 K in 12 IP.
• Clutch Execution: Seven-for-25 RISP, two comebacks.

The Angels excelled in:

• Starting Pitching: Kikuchi’s six-inning gem in Game 1.
• Offense: Nine home runs pace across the set, led by Adell’s three RBI.
• Home Defense: Limited Rays to 4.3 runs per game in the win.

Series Standouts

Tampa Bay Rays

• Junior Caminero (3B): Series MVP with two home runs and two RBI in Game 3, batting .500 (3-for-6) for four RBI overall.
• Brandon Lowe (2B): Clutch two-run homer in Game 2, batting .333 (2-for-6) with two RBI.
• Ryan Pepiot (P): Winning start in Game 2 (six innings, two earned runs), snapping a five-start winless streak.

Los Angeles Angels

• Jo Adell (RF): Offensive leader with a two-run homer and three RBI in Game 1, batting .400 (2-for-5).
• Mike Trout (DH): Veteran spark with a three-run homer in Game 3 (his 20th), batting .250 (1-for-4).
• Yusei Kikuchi (P): Dominant Game 1 (six innings, one earned run, seven strikeouts).

Team Performance Context

Los Angeles Angels (55–61 by August 6)

The 1–2 series loss dropped the Angels to 55–61, fifth in the AL West with a 29–30 home record. Their offense averaged 4.0 runs per game but yielded 5.7, with Adell’s homer boosting his season total to 23. Pitching faltered in losses (4.50 ERA), emphasizing rotation inconsistencies; the team focused on youth evaluation amid a rebuild.

Tampa Bay Rays (61–64 by August 6)

The 2–1 triumph lifted the Rays to 61–64, fourth in the AL East with a 30–33 road mark. Offense averaged 6.5 runs in wins, driven by Caminero’s 30 homers; the bullpen’s 2.25 ERA provided stability. One game back of a wild card, they gained momentum in a tight race.

Injury and Roster Notes

• Los Angeles Angels: No major injuries; Logan O’Hoppe managed a minor hand issue in Game 2 but played fully. Full lineup available.

• Tampa Bay Rays: CF Jonny DeLuca exited Game 3 in the sixth with right hamstring tightness (reinstated from IL on July 25 for shoulder strain). No other issues reported.

Conclusion

The Tampa Bay Rays won their 2025 interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels 2–1, rebounding from a 5–1 loss on August 4 with a 7–3 victory on August 5 (seven-run fourth) and 5–4 on August 6 (Caminero’s two homers and Morel’s go-ahead shot). Jo Adell’s power and Yusei Kikuchi’s pitching fueled the Angels’ opener, but Tampa Bay’s bullpen (2.25 ERA) and clutch hitting prevailed. The outcome aided the Rays’ wild-card chase while deepening the Angels’ rebuild. For full box scores and highlights, visit ESPN, Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com, or CBSSports.com.