Los Angeles: Shohei Ohtani struck out nine over 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, as the host Los Angeles Angels snapped the Tampa Bay Rays’ six-game winning streak and avoided a four-game sweep with a 5-2 win.
Ohtani (4-1) allowed six hits and walked one. Martin Maldonado hit a solo homer, his second, and had two RBIs, Zack Cozart added two RBIs and Luis Valbuena had one for Los Angeles, who snapped their season-high five-game skid.
Johnny Field clubbed a solo blast for his fourth homer of the year and Denard Span also had an RBI for Tampa Bay, who couldn’t build on their major league-leading win streak.
For the second straight day, Tampa Bay started reliever Sergio Romo. He pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Matt Andriese (1-2) followed Romo and gave up two unearned runs on no hits and two walks while striking out one.
