Mike Trout starts the Angels’ rally in the series-opening victory

ST. PETERSBURG — Angels star Mike Trout loves hitting at Tropicana Field.

Trout entered Monday’s opener against the Rays with the highest OPS in the park’s history with at least 100 plate appearances and hit it big again. Trout, hitting second base for the first time this year, belted a two-run blast in the eighth inning to give the Angels the lead in a 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay. It came a day after he complained about not pitching in the ninth on Sunday against the Red Sox, but this time he pitched it when it counted.

“I felt really good,” Trout said. “I think in Boston I was a little far. Only far in the sense that one pitch would feel good and it’s not. It’s just about recognizing the pitches. That’s when I feel right.”

It was Trout’s seventh homer of the year, who is tied for the Major League lead with Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna and Boston’s Tyler O’Neill. It came on a 2-1 corner from right-hander Phil Maton, as Trout didn’t miss a bunt. It left the bat at 111.6 mph and went an estimated 420 feet down the left field line. It was the second-fastest exit by a go-ahead hitter in the eighth inning or later this season, trailing Cincinnati’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s walk-off home run on March 31, which was 113.3 mph.

It was also Trout’s 10th homer in 27 career games at Tropicana. He’s a career .320/.419/.690 hitter there and his 1.109 OPS ranks first ahead of former Cleveland slugger Travis Hafner’s career 1.076 OPS in dominant ballparks.

“It’s just one of those things in baseball where it didn’t happen, he’s a great player for a reason,” said Rays right-hander Zach Eflin, who threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings. “But we get two more cracks at him. I don’t even know what day of the week it is, but we get two more games against him. So we’ll keep our heads up and show up tomorrow ready to go.”

Rays manager Kevin Cash was asked about Trout before the game and complained about Trout’s inevitability against his club. Trout went 6-for-12 with two homers and four RBIs in three games against the Rays last week, but Tampa Bay won two of the three.

“Keep people in front of him, I think, that’s what we learned last series,” Cash said. “That’s easier said than done. He’s good. He’s going to get his hits. You hope the damage comes when maybe. There’s nobody on base, but Mike Trout has a lot of talent to hold.”

Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, has again played at an MVP-caliber level this season after dealing with injuries in recent years, including playing in 82 games last year because of a Hamate fracture. on the swing in early July. He went 2-for-5 and is hitting .290/.362/.710 with seven homers, two doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs in 16 games.

“His presence is very important even when his performance is not there,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He is a very present young man. Tonight we needed a big one at the right time and he made it and then it opened up for everyone else.

Trout homered off left fielder Patrick Sandoval, who struggled with his command at times but allowed one run over five innings. He loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth but avoided surrendering just one run after striking out three batters in a row.

Sandoval thanked the defense behind him for the exit and said it was fun to see Trout and relievers Adam Cimber, Luis García, Matt Moore and Carlos Estévez play important roles in the win after the exit.

“It’s awesome,” Sandoval said. “You can’t explain what it’s like. But when Mike’s up and runners in scoring position in a crunch time, you always feel good when No. 27 is up there.”

Backup catcher Matt Thaiss also yielded three insurance runs with two outs in the eighth, as the Angels continued to rally after Trout’s homer. And Taylor Ward added a two-run blast in the ninth.

“We had a lot of opportunities and Matty and T both came through,” Trout said. “We give ourselves chances and we need big hits when they come and we got them tonight. But I think if we keep giving ourselves chances, you can’t ask for more.”