Pujols' 9th-Inning 2B Lifts Angels Over Twins 8-5
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Albert Pujols homered and hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the ninth inning for his 2,500th hit, leading the Los Angeles Angels over Minnesota 8-5 Saturday night for their third straight win over the Twins.
Pujols hit a solo homer in the third off Phil Hughes for a 3-2 lead, scoring his 1,500th run on his 25th home run this season.
With the score 5-all in the ninth and two on, Pujols doubled to deep left off Jared Burton (2-5) and scored on Howie Kendrick's single against Anthony Swarzak.
Joe Smith (7-2) pitched a one-hit eighth and Huston Street finished for his 37th save in 40 chances.
After one-out singles by Aaron Hicks and Chris Parmalee, Brian Dozier grounded into a game-ending 3-6-1 double play. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire challenged the call by first base umpire John Tumpane, and after a delay of about 1 minute, 20 seconds, the call was upheld.
Eduardo Escobar and Chris Parmelee homered for Minnesota, which led 5-3 after seven innings. The Angeles tied the score in the eighth against Casey Fien when Pujols singled, Kendrick tripled and Erick Aybar hit a sacrifice fly.
Hughes allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, walked none and struck out eight. With 165 strikeouts, he tied his career best with the New York Yankees in 2012.
Phil Hughes Postgame Comments
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Angels: LF Josh Hamilton missed his second straight game with a sore shoulder. Hamilton had been expected to return to the lineup, but manager Mike Scioscia said before the game that he was day to day. Scioscia said Hamilton was "feeling better" and LHP Joe Thatcher (ankle) was slated to pitch Saturday for Double-A Arkansas.
Twins: CF Danny Santana left the game with a lower-back injury sustained while trying to throw out David Freese at home in the second. The team said he's day to day. All-Star closer Glen Perkins also is day to day with neck soreness that started bothering him Thursday night. An MRI Saturday revealed no structural damage or pinched nerves. ... OF Jordan Schafer was out of the lineup a night after bruising ribs during a crash into the outfield wall. Assistant GM Rob Antony said Schafer was available to pinch run, if needed.
Ron Gardenhire Postgame Press Conference
UP NEXT:
Los Angeles starts LHP C.J. Wilson (10-9), who is 4-0 against the Twins since 2011. LHP Logan Darnell (0-1) likely will start for Minnesota.
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