Angels lose to Rays in 11 innings after Mike Mayers’ scoreless start

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mike Mayers made the most of his opportunity.

The Angels’ right-hander had been a reliever for almost his entire big league career, but he pitched five scoreless innings in his first traditional start in six years on Wednesday night.

Mayers actually matched zeros with Cy Young candidate Shane McClanahan before the Angels lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, in 11 innings.

“We pitched well,” manager Phil Nevin said. “That’s how you win games when you’re facing pitching like we saw today with McClanahan and their ‘pen. Those sting a little bit when you (lose) them.”

The Angels led 1-0 in the eighth on Mike Trout’s 26th home run, but the Rays tied it in the bottom of the inning. The teams each scored single runs in the 10th, without either getting a hit.

In the 11th, Taylor Ward put the Angels on top again with a run-scoring double, but the Angels couldn’t add any insurance.

Jaime Barria walked Brandon Lowe — with the 3-and-2 pitch appearing to nip the outside corner — and then gave up a double to Harold Ramirez, tying the score. The Angels got an out at the plate on a grounder to third baseman Jose Rojas. David Peralta then hit a high chopper to first baseman Jared Walsh, whose throw home was wide, allowing the winning run to score.

The Angels have scored just nine runs on this trip, but they’ve still had a chance to win five of the six games because the pitching has been effective, including an improbable outing from Mayers.

Mayers, 30, opened the season in the Angels’ bullpen after being effective as a reliever for each of the past two seasons, but he struggled so much that he was designated for assignment in May. When no one claimed Mayers, the Angels kept him in Triple-A and tried him as a starter.

After returning to the big leagues earlier this month, he had been used in long relief before Nevin gave him a shot to start on Wednesday.

Mayers had started twice as an opener for the Angels in 2021, but before that his only other start was in his major league debut, on July 24, 2016. Pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, Mayers gave up nine runs and recorded only four outs against the Dodgers that day.

Mayers said this one felt “really good, especially after the way the first one went. I never thought I’d get that opportunity again. A lot of adversity over the last six years. A lot of people helping me get through it. It felt good to go out there and pitch well.”

This one was threatening to go the direction of that first start.

Mayers gave up singles to the first two hitters of the game. After a strikeout, he issued a walk to load the bases. Mayers got Peralta on a pop-up and then he struck out Manuel Margot, escaping the inning unscathed.

“I’ve learned a lot of stuff fin the bullpen that helped me tonight,” Mayers said. “First and second, nobody out is nothing new coming out of the ‘pen. At that point, let’s get some swing and misses, popups, ground balls and get out of there.”