The Angels and Tampa Bay Rays each entered Monday’s series opener with 23 wins and 23 losses. They are .500 ballclubs, flawed but often capable.
Predictably, their matchup swung on the tiniest of margins: a wild pitch. The Angels were the beneficiaries of the mistake in a 3-2 victory at Tropicana Field.
Cameron Maybin led off the game with an infield single, stole second, and took third when Derek Norris threw the baseball away. Mike Trout and Luis Valbuena walked, while Albert Pujols popped out.