Tyler Anderson leads Angels past Rays with 2nd straight scoreless outing
Anderson pitches seven scoreless innings for the second time in as many starts in a 7-1 win. He is the first Angels pitcher since 2016 to do that, and the first ever to do it in the first two starts of the season.
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings in a 7-1 win. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout (27) celebrates with Manager Ron Washington, right, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings in a 7-1 win. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Angels, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout hits an RBI triple during the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout hits an RBI triple during the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout, center, is congratulated by third base coach Eric Young Sr., left, after hitting an RBI triple as Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes looks on during the first inning on Monday at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Anthony Rendon celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a triple hit by Mike Trout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Jose Siri catches a fly ball hit by Angels designated hitter Miguel Sanó during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single hit by Taylor Ward during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo throws to first baseman Brandon Drury for the out on the Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Díaz during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout watches the flight of his solo home run during the third inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout watches the flight of his solo home run during the third inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout tosses his bat after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout watches the flight of his solo home run as he begins to run the bases during the third inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin throws to the plate during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels second base Luis Rengifo, left, catches the Tampa Bay Rays’ José Caballero stealing second during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels second base Luis Rengifo, left, catches the Tampa Bay Rays’ José Caballero stealing second during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Anthony Rendon runs after hitting a single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout looks up after hitting a foul ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings in a 7-1 win. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin, left, gets a visit from pitching coach Kyle Snyder, right, and catcher René Pinto during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop José Caballero throws out the Angels’ Mike Trout at first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Anthony Rendon is congratulated in the dugout after scoring on a hit by Taylor Ward during the fifth inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jacob Waguespack throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Luis Rengifo, right, steals second base against Tampa Bay Rays second base Curtis Mead after a wild pitch by pitcher Jacob Waguespack during the sixth inning of a game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson cools off in the dugout before pitching during the seventh inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout runs to first after grounding out during the seventh inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson receives a standing ovation as he walks off the mound during the eighth inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Rays’ René Pinto gestures after hitting a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Angels, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Díaz hits a foul ball during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Angels, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Amed Rosario fields a ground ball hit by the Angels’ Mickey Moniak during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. Los Angeles Angels’ Anthony Rendon scored. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Harold Ramírez celebrates in the dugout after scoring off a grounder hit by Isaac Paredes during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Angels, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
From left, Angels left fielder Taylor Ward, center fielder Mike Trout, and right fielder Mickey Moniak celebrate after the team’s win in a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
From left, Angels outfielders Taylor Ward, Mike Trout and Mickey Moniak celebrate after their 7-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout, right, gestures near shortstop Zach Neto after the team’s win in a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout, right, and third baseman Anthony Rendon celebrate after their 7-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Angels star Mike Trout takes batting practice before a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout takes batting practice before a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels star Mike Trout takes batting practice before a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena speaks to fans before a baseball game against the Angels, Monday, April 8, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
ANAHEIM — The Angels have plenty of players looking to rebound from disappointing seasons in 2023, and none of them so far has been more successful than Tyler Anderson.
The left-hander pitched seven scoreless innings in a 7-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
Anderson hasn’t allowed a run in 14 innings this season. He became the first Angels pitcher since Hector Santiago in 2016 to pitch at least seven scoreless innings in two consecutive games. The Angels had never had a pitcher do it in his first two starts of the season.
It’s been an eye-opening start for a pitcher who posted a 5.43 ERA in 2023, the first season after the Angels signed him to a three-year, $39 million deal.
When Anderson walked off the mound in the eighth inning on Monday, he was greeted by a standing ovation.
“That was great,” Anderson said. “We have a lot of great fans. I feel like last year I didn’t pitch well for them. So to start off the year this way when people are here always feels good.”
Anderson got all the offensive support he needed from Mike Trout, who to a lesser degree is also looking to prove something this season. Trout tripled and hit his fifth home run of the season, equaling the major league lead. He also singled. The three-time American League MVP is now hitting .297 with an OPS of 1.138.
Taylor Ward also drove in three runs with his three hits, including a single to drive in Trout after his RBI triple in the first. That gave Anderson a 2-0 lead before the second inning, and he then cruised through a Rays lineup that included nine right-handed hitters.
He needed just 91 pitches to record 21 outs, leaving to a standing ovation after allowing a leadoff hit in the eighth. He struck out three and walked one.
The only trouble he faced was in the fourth inning.
Anderson walked Randy Arozarena and then Isaac Paredes pulled a grounder down the third base line, for a double. Amed Rosario hit a sharp liner, but it was right to first baseman Brandon Drury. Curtis Mead then hit a fly ball that Trout caught on the warning track.
Anderson said the differences from last year to this year are his mental approach and his defense.
“I think really just trying to go pitch to pitch, and not try to think too much,” Anderson said. “Just just try to execute as many as you can. And then really our defense has been great the last two for me, which is huge. I don’t get a lot of strikeouts. Our positioning has been really good. A lot of things that we’ve talked about. Guys have made really good adjustments, our staff’s made great adjustments. Having guys in the right spot at the right time is huge.”
Anderson got some help from another player looking to give the Angels some value after a disappointing tenure with the team.
Anthony Rendon had two singles and a double, his first multi-hit game of the season. Rendon is now 6 for 16 since his 0-for-21 start to the season. Rendon led off the game with a hit and then scored on Trout’s triple into right field. Rendon’s single in the fifth sparked a two-run rally that pushed the Angels lead to 5-0. Rendon’s double in the eighth led to another run.
Luis Rengifo also drove in a run with a seventh-inning single.
Eight of the nine players in the starting lineup reached with a hit or walk.
“You find out the character of the people you’re around when you get knocked down the way we got knocked down yesterday,” Manager Ron Washington said. “We come back and proved there is some character in that room. We just got to learn, as I always say, to be able to sustain, to be consistent. Yeah, we got punched, but it didn’t bother us. We came back. We prepared. And we went out and played.”
