Angels 6, Rays 5
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay's normally reliable defense let the Rays down on Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Angels scored two-unearned runs in the ninth inning to beat the Rays 6-5 at Tropicana Field.
Grant Green led off the ninth with a walk. Peter Bourjos reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. J.B. Shuck flared a ball into center field that Desmond Jennings dropped, putting runners on second and third.
Erick Aybar came through for the Angels with a two-run double off Fernando Rodney to give the Angels an improbable 6-5 victory.
Dane De La Rosa pitched the ninth for his second save.
The Rays entered Tuesday's game having committed only 46 errors in 129 games, the second fewest in MLB history.
Tampa Bay, the American League wild-card leader, fell to 74-56. Los Angeles improved to 59-71.
James Loney's two-run double off reliever Buddy Boshers in the sixth inning gave the Rays a 5-1 lead. But the Angels came back and scored three times in the seventh to make the score 5-4.
Angels starter C.J. Wilson allowed three earned runs on eight hits and five walks in five innings. Wilson entered the game 9-1 with a 2.63 ERA in his previous 13 starts.
Rays' starter Roberto Hernandez was charged with three earned runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out six.
Ernesto Frieri earned the win with a perfect eight inning. Rodney blew a save opportunity for the eighth time this season as he suffered the loss.
NOTES: The Rays demoted struggling RHP Jeremy Hellickson to Class A Charlotte (Port Charlotte, Fla.) for a "little bit of a break," manager Joe Maddon said. Hellickson has not lasted five innings in five of his last six starts and was removed in the third inning of his last outing. Maddon said Hellickson is not injured and may throw a bullpen session. He is expected to return by Sept. 2. LHP Jeff Beliveau was recalled from Triple-A Durham to work out of the bullpen. ... The game was a potential Rookie of the Year showcase. Los Angeles DH J.B. Shuck entered the night leading American League rookies in hits (97), runs (44), and doubles (16), while Rays RF Wil Myers led in RBIs (39). Myers led several categories before a recent slump, in which he was 9-for-54 (.167) with one home run and 20 strikeouts in his last 14 games before Tuesday. ... Wilson tripped jogging to the mound before the second inning, leaped to his feet and pretended to duck before an imaginary sniper fired again.