The All-Star break can't come soon enough for Drew Smyly, who hasn't won since May 16, or for the Tampa Bay Rays, who took a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
"Can't wait," said Smyly, who will take a 2-10 record into the break. "Hopefully the second half will be better for us."
All-Star Mike Trout led off the fifth inning with his 18th home run to put the Angels up 7-0. It was the 157th homer in the career of the 24-year-old center fielder, who moved into sixth place on the franchise list.
With his 100th hit, Trout became the first player to collect 100 hits and 15 home runs before the All-Star break four times before his age-25 season.
Miguel Cabrera and Jimmy Foxx are the only other players to have accomplished the feat three times.
"That's the first time I've heard that," Trout said. "I'm not (going up there thinking) I need one more hit for 100 hits. But I feel good at the plate. I'm missing some pitches but it's baseball. It's tough."
Jered Weaver (7-7) struck out five and gave up four hits, including Logan Forsythe's seventh home run.
Evan Longoria had three hits for the Rays, who lost for the 18th time in 21 game
"We're not winning. I didn't pitch well. We didn't defend well. We didn't hit well, and it starts with me," Smyly said. "I've got to put up zeroes. I let it spiral out of control. That's on me."
Smyly is winless in nine starts since his last win, but manager Kevin Cash is not ready to yank him from the rotation.
"Let's get to the break," Cash said. "There's no doubt that he hasn't had his strongest outings. We understand that. Some have been a little bit on him, some have been on the way we've performed behind him."
Smyly gave up seven runs, four earned, on eight hits in four innings.
Rays catcher Curt Casali left the game after the sixth inning with a contusion on the left side of his head.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning in his first rehab start for Class A Charlotte. ... RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) mixed in curveballs for the first time among his 35 pitches during his third session against hitters. ... RHP Brad Boxberger (left oblique) threw 15 pitches in his first batting practice outing. ... CF Kevin Kiermaier (broken left hand), who could return soon after the All-Star break, hit several liners off Whitley and Boxberger in his initial live BP session.
MOVING DAY
Rays: LHP Dana Eveland was designated for assignment and RHP Dylan Floro had his contract purchased from Triple-A Durham. RHP Ryan Webb cleared waivers and was released.
SOUZA STARTING
Rays RF Steven Souza Jr. was in the starting lineup one day after being pulled Tuesday night for not running hard out of the batter's box in what turned into a triple after his routine fly ball dropped between two Los Angeles outfielders.
"It was over the second the game was over," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Souza admitted his mistake.
"I was really impressed with the way he handled it," Cash said. "He owned it. He had a lapse. We all have lapses. We'll look to move past it now."
UP NEXT
LHP Hector Santiago (5-4) will pitch for the Angels in Thursday's series finale against rookie LHP Blake Snell (1-3). It will be Snell's sixth major league start.
