Mike Trout retus to lineup as Angels fall to Rays in 10 innings

ANAHEIM >> In one sense, the Angels won before the game even began on Friday night.

They put Mike Trout in the lineup, getting back the best player in the majors after he’d missed more than six weeks because of a to ligament in his thumb.

Hours later, though, they were still looking to get the victory that counted. They lost 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in 10 innings, with Cam Bedrosian allowing the go-ahead run on a two-out double by Brad Miller.

Trout had one hit, hardly providing the boon to the offense that the Angels hope will come eventually. Still, Trout’s retu was a moment to be savored for all involved.

“Being able to see your name in the lineup feels good,” Trout said before the game. “Obviously a lot of work to get back here.”

Trout said he had no conces about any lingering issues with his thumb. His 14 plate appearances in the minor leagues were enough to convince him that he’d have no trouble on inside pitches, and no trouble on his follow-through after a miss.

Trout demonstrated quickly that he would have no issues. In his first plate appearance in the majors since May 28, he smoked a drive to center field, but it was caught easily by Mallex Smith.

The next time he came up, he hit a line drive to center for a single. Trout then stole second on the first pitch, going in with a head-first slide. He has said he won’t change his approach on the bases, despite the injury. He is wearing a guard on his hand when he runs the bases, which protects his fingers when he slides.

Trout hit a foul popout in the fifth, and in the seventh he came up with a chance to snap a tie. Batting with two out and runners at first and second, Trout grounded out.

In the 10th, Trout struck out against closer Alex Colome to end it.

The Angels failed to convert several opportunities earlier in the night.

Albert Pujols hit a homer in the second, his 14th of the season, to tie the game 1-1. The Angels had chances in the second, third and fourth, but they left six runners on base in those innings.

It must have been a familiar sight to Ricky Nolasco, who has suffered with poor offensive support all season. The Angels have scored three runs while he’s been in the game just four times in his 19 starts (including tonight).

Nolasco, however, at least pitched one of his better games, allowing just one run on two hits in seven innings.

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Evan Longoria hit a homer in the first inning — the league-leading 26th homer Nolasco has allowed this season. Nolasco did not allow another hit until the seventh. At one point he retired 10 in a row.

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