DODGERS‘ Shohei Ohtani (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A late rally by the Los Angeles Angels came a bit too late on Friday night as the Halos lost 8-5 to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

The Orange County team led early 2-1 but fell behind later by 8-2. Their comeback with three runs in the eighth raised hopes, but fell short.

In the top of the eighth, Vaughn Grissom doubled in Zach Neto. Jo Adell then brought in Mike Trout from third base on a shallow outfield out. Wade Meckler’s ground out brought in Grissom from third.

But that was it to drop the Angels’ record to 22-36, still in fifth and last place in the American League West.

Neto was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI and was one of five Angels with two hits. Grissom was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Dodgers 4, Phillies 2: By contrast with the Angels, the Los Angeles Dodgers built up an early lead and held off rallies in beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 at home.

The Blue Crew rolled on four solo home runs: once each by Freddie Freeman (8th of the season), Max Muncy (13th), Shohei Ohtani (10th) and Will Smith (6th).

Ohtani batted 3-for-4 to raise his batting average to .279.

That was all in support of Justin Wrobleski (7-2), who gave up just one hit and one run while striking out nine batters over seven innings.

The victory – their fifth straight – improved the LAD to 36-20, worth first place in the National League West, four games ahead of the San Diego Padres.