Pujols’ ninth-inning single caps Angels’ comeback over Dodgers

L.A. trails Texas by 2.5 games in AL West

Albert Pujols’ broken-bat single with two outs in the ninth lifted the Angels to 3-2 road win over the Dodgers on Monday night.

The Dodgers (39-23), who lead the NL West by 4.5 games over San Francisco, struck for two in the first.

Angels’ starter Garrett Richards walked leadoff man Dee Gordon and there were two runners in scoring position with no outs following a ground-rule double by Elian Herrera. Andre’ Ethier’s ground out to shortstop made it 1-0 and Herrera scored when Mike Trout was unable to cleanly field Richards’ errant throw on a failed pickoff.

After Dodgers’ starter Chris Capuano escaped jams in each of the first three innings, the Angels got on the board via Mike Trout’s two-out, solo shot in the fourth.

The 20-year old Trout did some more two-out damage in the sixth when he delivered a single to plate Erick Aybar. Aybar had led off the inning with a double.

Then, with one out in the ninth, Trout drew a one-out walk and stole second to set the stage for Pujols’ game-winner.

Ernesto Frieri was able to secure his fifth save, but not without a little excitement.

Frieri issued a one-out walk to A.J. Ellis and the Dodgers had the tying run in scoring position with two down after he plunked Juan Uribe, but he got Dee Gordon to fly out to left to end the game.

Angels’ starter Garrett Richards allowed two runs—one earned—on five hits and five walks in five innings.

Jason Isringhausen, who recorded the final out of the eighth, notched the win and is now 2-0.

Dodgers’ starter Chris Capuano surrendered two runs—both of which were earned—on eight hits and four walks in five innings. Reliever Kenley Jansen, who worked the ninth, suffered the loss and falls to 4-1.

Mike Trout and Albert Pujols finished with 2-for-4 performances. The duo led four Angels with multi-hit games.

Dee Gordon, who went 2-for-4, was the only Dodger with more than one hit.

By: Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum
MLBCenter.com Staff Writer