Colon leaves early; Rivera powers Angels' rout of Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Angels' biggest offensive performance of the season was overshadowed by Bartolo Colon's sore right elbow.

Colon, the 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner, left after one inning of the Angels' 15-6 win Wednesday over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays because of irritation in his pitching elbow.

"He had a little stiffness," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll evaluate him on a day-to-day basis and come up with some options, if we have to, in case he can't make his next start."

Elias Says

The Angels coasted to a 15-6 victory over the Devil Rays after a 10-run second inning gave Los Angeles a 12-4 lead. It was only the third game in American League history in which teams combined to score at least 16 runs through the top of the second inning. It happened previously June 29, 1950, in the Red Sox's 22-14 win at Philadelphia (18 runs through 1½ innings) and July 5, 1996, when the A's beat the Angels 16-8 at Oakland (17 runs through 1½ innings). • For more Elias Says, click here

Colon allowed four runs and four hits, including homers by Rocco Baldelli and Ty Wigginton. He was making just his 10th start of the season.

"I think there is some concern, but it's balanced with the fact that Bartolo, he's been such a horse for so long that you feel very good about his ability to get back to where he needs to be," Scioscia said.

Colon was on the disabled list from April 19 to June 17 because of right shoulder inflammation.

"That's the first thing that crossed my mind, how I'm just getting over the one thing and something else pops up," Colon said through a translator. "I want to be able to throw on the mound in my next [scheduled] outing, so hopefully this is just something very minor that I felt today. I'm going to work hard to get it back and be back on the mound."

Juan Rivera hit a pair of two-run doubles, including one during a 10-run second inning. He has nine homers and 22 RBI in 22 July games.

"Juan's been having some kind of month," Scioscia said. "He got us going early in the game. We're getting some guys on base for him and he's taking advantage of it."

Maicer Izturis had two hits and drove in three runs in the second, when the Angels took a 12-4 lead. The 10 runs and nine hits in the inning were season highs for Los Angeles.

"It was just one of those things where the pitches were in the wrong spot, and anytime they hit a ball it found a benevolent part of the field," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "It was one of those goofy days."

Kevin Gregg (3-3) replaced Colon and gave up two runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings for the Angels, who have won 12 of 16 and are 17-5 in July. Gregg left with one out in the fifth because of left knee irritation.

"A day's rest or two and I'll be back on it," Gregg said.

Jose Molina drove in the first Los Angeles run in the second with a double before Izturis hit a two-run double. Orlando Cabrera added an RBI single that chased Devil Rays starter Casey Fossum (4-4).

Fossum gave up seven runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings.

"It seemed like there was always people on base," Fossum said. "It just happened so quickly. The game sped up on me and I sped up with it. I just really never got a chance to slow things down and make some quality pitches."

Rivera hit his second two-run double of the game against Edwin Jackson, who followed Fossum and allowed five runs and five hits while getting just one out.

After Robb Quinlan had an RBI single and Chone Figgins drove in two with a double, Izturis ended Jackson's day with a run-scoring single.

Chad Harville, the third Tampa Bay pitcher in the inning, retired Cabrera, his first batter, for the final out.

Quinlan's two-run double in the eighth extended the Angels' lead to 15-6. He has 20 RBI in 15 games.

Baldelli hit a two-run homer and Wigginton had a solo shot off Colon over a span of three pitches during a four-run first to put the Devil Rays ahead 4-2. Wigginton's homer was his career-high 18th of the season.

Tampa Bay has lost 10 of 13 since the All-Star break.

Game notes
Devil Rays shortstop Julio Lugo played after missing three games with a bruised right middle finger. ... Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick hit his first career homer, a solo shot in the sixth. ... Los Angeles outfielder Garret Anderson (sore left hamstring) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ... Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir will miss his scheduled start Friday because of shoulder soreness. The Devil Rays expect the All-Star to pitch next Tuesday.