Street. PETERSBURG – Christian Bethancourt earned a two-stroke RBI in the same inning before going from catch to hill to calm in the ninth inning of the Tampa Bay Rays’ 11-1 victory over the Angels on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay has the first wild card berth in the Major League Playoffs. They have won four times in a row and 10 of the last 12, to break 12 games over the 0.500 mark (67-55), their best record of the season.
Bethancourt fouled and hit one of two runs during the seventh inning of six runs as the Rays led 9-1.
Tampa Bay was leading by 10 runs in the ninth inning, and manager Kevin Cash decided to send the catcher up the hill.
Panamanian does not seem to be oblivious to the task at hand. His fastball hit 95 mph. He allowed two hits and hit Luis Rengivo.
By contrast, Angels player Phil Josselin had three straight kicks in ninth, throwing five pitches between 48 and 51 mph.
Corey Klopper (8-7) gave up one game at five strokes in six innings.
On the Venezuelan Angels Renjivo 4-1. Dominican Magnuris Sierra 3-1.
For Rays, Cuban Yandy Díaz scored 4-1 with two innings and one record, Randy Arozarena 5-3 with RBI. Dominican Manuel Margo scored 4-2 with three runs and two RBIs scored, Jose Seri 4-1 with two rounds. Colombian Harold Ramirez 5-1 with RBI. Mexican Isaac Paredes 4-2 with two games and one record. Panamanian Betancourt 4-2 with one inning and three RBIs.
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