Jered Weaver shines in the Angels’ 7-2 win over Rays

The velocity he predicted has not materialized, but Jered Weaver’s competitiveness has remained the same as ever. The seasoned right-hander finished the season’s first half with one of his better performances Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.

He struck out five Tampa Bay Rays, walked one, and yielded only one run, on a solo homer, over six innings as the Angels secured a second straight victory, 7-2, and leaped ahead of the Rays at the bottom of the American League standings.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said Weaver’s pitches were sharper than in any of his 16 previous starts this season. Weaver did not necessarily agree.

“I feel like my stuff felt the same as it has all the time,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s ever easy. I’m just trying to locate pitches and keep those guys off balance. I was able to do that for the most part.”

The two men agreed on one point. They have been at this together for more than a decade now, and Weaver’s desire to succeed in a given competition has never abated.

“Just having that element inside of him lets him go out with whatever his tools are and try to win,” Scioscia said. “I think he takes great satisfaction in that. He’s going to go out there, he’s going to continue to make pitches, figure out a way to get through a lineup and get through an inning.”

What Weaver’s future holds remains unclear. In a team-high 100 2/3 innings this season, he owns a 5.27 earned-run average, among the worst in the majors. He has struck out the same number of men per nine innings. His five-year extension expires at season’s end, and those sorts of statistics do not often produce guaranteed major league contracts.

His spine has degenerated, doctors told him this spring. He could retire. He could latch onto another club for the first time since the Angels drafted him a dozen years ago. For now, he represents the team’s inspiration amid a trying season.

“We all see it as teammates,” Mike Trout said. “He’s a warrior. A lot of guys would go on the [disabled list] and try to fix it, but he’s out there grinding, working hard.”

Trout has made a habit of pointing out Weaver’s fastest fastballs this season. In April, they were 85 mph, then 86. After Wednesday’s game, he noted he saw “a couple 87s” pop up on the scoreboard.

“You’ve got to give him credit,” Trout said. “He’s making his stuff work. He’s not making excuses, he’s going out there and giving us some quality innings.”

Right fielder Kole Calhoun helped Weaver’s cause when he jumped to grab an Evan Longoria liner in the fourth inning. Weaver tipped his cap. After he exited, Calhoun threw out ex-Angel Hank Conger trying for second base on an off-the-wall ninth-inning drive.

The first four Angels to bat against Rays starter Drew Smyly in the third inning reached base. Trout then pattered a double-play ball, but Tampa Bay threw it away, and the Angels went on to score four.

They added two in the fourth on a single, a double, an error and a sacrifice fly. During the rally, third baseman Yunel Escobar faked being hit by a pitch and took first. When the Rays challenged and the replay was shown in the stadium, he grinned and watched the play from first base. Then he returned to the plate and whacked the double.

Afterward, Weaver was asked if it is ever difficult for him to summon the strength to compete, his team 15 games under .500 and all.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “That’s one of the worst questions I’ve ever heard.”

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura