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Rays top Angels as Wilson struggles in return from DL

Aug 3, 2014 - 5:56 AM St. Petersburg, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Evan Longoria crushed a two-run homer, Ben Zobrist had four hits with one RBI and the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 10-3, at Tropicana Field.

James Loney collected three hits and Logan Forsythe also homered for the Rays, who avoided their first losing streak of at least three games since dropping four straight June 7-10.

Chris Archer (7-6) started for Tampa Bay and aside from one inning, pitched effectively. He allowed three runs -- all in the fourth inning -- scattered six hits and struck out nine in six innings.

"It's just nice to go out there and beat team's aces," Archer said.

The Angels activated C.J. Wilson (8-7) from the disabled list for the start and he lasted only 1 1/3 innings. Wilson, who had been sidelined with a sprained right ankle and last pitched for the Angels on July 9, surrendered six runs on six hits.

"We need him. We need him to figure it out," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Wilson. "We need him to get back in to making pitches and being effective."

Longoria clubbed his team-leading 13th homer of the season in the first inning, then the Rays chased Wilson with four runs in the second.

Loney hit a one-out single and Curt Casali walked before Forsythe drove in Loney with a soft line-drive single to right-center field. Desmond Jennings and Zobrist then reached on consecutive bunt singles, the first plating Casali and the second loading the bases.

Wilson departed after Brandon Guyer lined a two-run single to center.

Archer cruised through three innings, allowing just two singles, but ran into trouble in the fourth.

A one-hop ground-rule double to right by Howie Kendrick scored Albert Pujols with one away. David Freese had an RBI groundout to third and Hank Conger ripped a run-scoring double to right to bring the Angels within 6-3.

After flirting to expand their lead multiple times, the Rays finally succeeded with another four-spot in the eighth.

Forsythe led off with a homer to left, Zobrist supplied an RBI double and pinch-hitter Matt Joyce and Yunel Escobar both singled home a run.

Game Notes

Loney has reached base in 21 consecutive games ... The Angels optioned outfielder J.B. Shuck to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room for Wilson on the roster.