Mike Trout hits huge milestone in Angels win over Tampa Bay Rays

ANAHEIM, Calif. - When you've had as long and as illustrious of a career as Mike Trout has, chances are that every game comes with a chance at making history or crossing a major career threshold. 

That was the case in the first inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Trout stepped up to the plate and ripped a single into right field, the 1,000th of his career, to set the stage for the Angels' first scoring rally of the game. 

Jo Adell followed Trout with a single of his own and soon after Trey Mancini, one of the new additions to the Angels' Major League lineup, ripped a triple off the right field wall to score both Trout and Adell and give the Angels an early 2-0 lead. 

"He's [Mancini] a great guy and a great player and that's why he's here. And we need him, so it's nice to see him do that job," Angels starter Sam Aldegheri said. 

Sam Aldegheri gets his shot

No one appreciated Mancini's triple more than his fellow Italian Aldegheri, who was looking to earn a permanent place on the mound with Los Angeles. 

Aldegheri had been called up from and sent down to Triple-A a number of times this season already and he's seen use both as a starter and in the bullpen for the Angels when he was with the Major League squad. 

"I'm really glad that they gave me the opportunity to start tonight. Of course, I wanted to show that I'm able to handle these games," Aldegheri said. 

With the news that Jack Kochanowicz would require season-ending Tommy John surgery, a vacancy opened up in the rotation that Aldegheri was looking to fill and Friday was in a way his tryout. A tryout that went well. 

Aldegheri went five innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits while walking three and striking out four. It was a modest, yet successful outing and it certainly left an impression on manager Kurt Suzuki.

"He certainly made a case," Suzuki said of Aldegheri. "He pitched his butt off tonight and definitely put himself in the conversation."

Mitch Farris, Ryan Zeferjahn

Chase Silseth took over in the sixth inning and kept things scoreless while striking out two and then ball was in Mitch Farris' hand for the seventh inning... and beyond.

Farris made it through the seventh inning scoreless while allowing his one walk, then he was sent out for the eighth inning. That inning was similarly without incident other than a double by Austin Slater but still, no runs. 

Then Farris was sent back out for the ninth inning to attempt a nine-out save, a move that Suzuki was based on his confidence in Farris as well as having the benefit of saving the Angels' somewhat depleted bullpen. 

"[I was] a little surprised, but I was ready for the moment and wanted to close it out right there," Farris said of being sent out in the ninth. "Ended up not coming to fruition exactly how I would like it, but we got the win. That's all that matters."

Farris got to two outs in the ninth, but was unable to close out the game after two singles and a walk that allowed the Rays to cut the lead down 4-3 and placed the tying run on third base. 

Ryan Zeferjahn was came in to relive Farris and even though he walked Junior Caminero to load the bases, he struck Cedric Mullins out swinging to close the game for the Angels' third-straight win. 

"It was awesome. Like we said from the beginning, right? We're gonna need everybody" Suzuki said of Zeferjahn. "Different guys are gonna step up at different times. And tonight it was Sily [Silseth], Farris and Zef and Zef coming in in a big situation right there and closing the door was huge."