ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols
was only moderately excited when he looked up at the scoreboard and
learned he had tied Babe Ruth's career hits total with his 599th home
run.
The slugger always prefers to see less attention focused on his milestones and more on the Angels' victories -- particularly when a first-time starter plays a major role.
Pujols connected during Los Angeles' nine-run third inning in a 9-3 victory over struggling Bartolo Colon and the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Pujols moved to the brink of his latest landmark with a three-run homer off Colon (2-6) early in the Angels' biggest inning of the season. After his first-inning single, Pujols' homer was his 2,873rd career hit, matching Ruth's total in 30 fewer games.
"I don't play here for numbers," Pujols said. "My goal since Day One when I got to the big leagues was to help the organization that I wear the uniform of. ... I'm aware of the history, don't get me wrong. I respect it, but I think that's kind of a distraction that I don't want to bring into the game for me."
The 37-year-old slugger has homered in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He can become the ninth player in baseball history, and fourth-youngest, to reach 600 homers with his next shot.
Pujols would rather talk about Parker Bridwell (1-0), who earned his first major league win by pitching six-hit ball into the seventh inning of a spot start in the Angels' injury-plagued rotation.
"He didn't look like a guy that was making his first start out there in his career," Pujols said. "He was really comfortable as soon as he took that ball in the first inning and went right after the batters."
Matt Kemp and Tyler Flowers homered for the Braves.
BART'S BAD DAY
The 44-year-old Colon committed one of the Braves' three errors in the third, leading to seven unearned runs. Although he gave up seven hits and got just seven outs in his latest unimpressive outing, Atlanta seemed to take the loss as a result of group ineptitude.
"I don't know that I've ever witnessed anything like that, and I've been at all the levels," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I don't know. It was a little bit of everything. I don't know, because I didn't count, how many extra outs we gave them."
RAMSHACKLE RALLY
In their second game after losing Mike Trout to an injured thumb ligament, the Angels still managed plenty of offense.
All nine batters scored one run apiece in the third-inning rally, which would have ended before it began if Jace Peterson had completed a double play on Kole Calhoun's one-out grounder. Instead, Pujols' subsequent homer cleared the bases.
The Angels reached base in 12 consecutive plate appearances during the rally, which included an error by shortstop Dansby Swanson along with a handful of head-scratching defensive plays that weren't errors.
"It bothers you, because this is the major leagues," Snitker said. "That shouldn't happen. It's one thing these guys should be able to do is make plays, and we didn't. And it was a lot of people not making plays."
PARKER CAN'T LOSE
Bridwell persisted through a bumpy beginning to win in his first appearance for the Angels, who acquired the right-hander from Baltimore last month. After converting Bridwell into a starter, the Angels called him up to become the ninth starter and 22nd pitcher to appear for the club in just 55 games.
Bridwell had about 20 friends and family members in the stands, but didn't show the pressure. Waiting out the Angels' extensive rally didn't bother him, either.
"I just sat in my spot and didn't talk," Bridwell said. "And when (Atlanta) made the pitching change, I just went down to the (batting) cage and played catch, a couple of throws, and watched the offense put up runs."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: 2B Brandon Phillips didn't play to get extra rest for his bruised right knee. He isn't expected to need a stint on the disabled list.
Angels: OF Cameron Maybin sat out after feeling tightness in his side after making a running catch Monday. ... 3B Yunel Escobar will play a rehab game with Class A Inland Empire on Wednesday, and could return to the Angels on Thursday. He has missed two weeks with a strained hamstring.
UP NEXT
Braves: LHP Jaime Garcia (2-3, 3.58 ERA) has only one win in his last eight starts despite a string of decent performances. He is making his eighth start on the road, with just two in Atlanta.
Angels: RHP Jesse Chavez (4-6, 5.09) has been solid at home during his up-and-down season. He has never allowed a run to the Braves in four career appearances.
Atlanta Braves
The slugger always prefers to see less attention focused on his milestones and more on the Angels' victories -- particularly when a first-time starter plays a major role.
Pujols connected during Los Angeles' nine-run third inning in a 9-3 victory over struggling Bartolo Colon and the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Pujols moved to the brink of his latest landmark with a three-run homer off Colon (2-6) early in the Angels' biggest inning of the season. After his first-inning single, Pujols' homer was his 2,873rd career hit, matching Ruth's total in 30 fewer games.
"I don't play here for numbers," Pujols said. "My goal since Day One when I got to the big leagues was to help the organization that I wear the uniform of. ... I'm aware of the history, don't get me wrong. I respect it, but I think that's kind of a distraction that I don't want to bring into the game for me."
The 37-year-old slugger has homered in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He can become the ninth player in baseball history, and fourth-youngest, to reach 600 homers with his next shot.
Pujols would rather talk about Parker Bridwell (1-0), who earned his first major league win by pitching six-hit ball into the seventh inning of a spot start in the Angels' injury-plagued rotation.
"He didn't look like a guy that was making his first start out there in his career," Pujols said. "He was really comfortable as soon as he took that ball in the first inning and went right after the batters."
Matt Kemp and Tyler Flowers homered for the Braves.
BART'S BAD DAY
The 44-year-old Colon committed one of the Braves' three errors in the third, leading to seven unearned runs. Although he gave up seven hits and got just seven outs in his latest unimpressive outing, Atlanta seemed to take the loss as a result of group ineptitude.
"I don't know that I've ever witnessed anything like that, and I've been at all the levels," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I don't know. It was a little bit of everything. I don't know, because I didn't count, how many extra outs we gave them."
RAMSHACKLE RALLY
In their second game after losing Mike Trout to an injured thumb ligament, the Angels still managed plenty of offense.
All nine batters scored one run apiece in the third-inning rally, which would have ended before it began if Jace Peterson had completed a double play on Kole Calhoun's one-out grounder. Instead, Pujols' subsequent homer cleared the bases.
The Angels reached base in 12 consecutive plate appearances during the rally, which included an error by shortstop Dansby Swanson along with a handful of head-scratching defensive plays that weren't errors.
"It bothers you, because this is the major leagues," Snitker said. "That shouldn't happen. It's one thing these guys should be able to do is make plays, and we didn't. And it was a lot of people not making plays."
PARKER CAN'T LOSE
Bridwell persisted through a bumpy beginning to win in his first appearance for the Angels, who acquired the right-hander from Baltimore last month. After converting Bridwell into a starter, the Angels called him up to become the ninth starter and 22nd pitcher to appear for the club in just 55 games.
Bridwell had about 20 friends and family members in the stands, but didn't show the pressure. Waiting out the Angels' extensive rally didn't bother him, either.
"I just sat in my spot and didn't talk," Bridwell said. "And when (Atlanta) made the pitching change, I just went down to the (batting) cage and played catch, a couple of throws, and watched the offense put up runs."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: 2B Brandon Phillips didn't play to get extra rest for his bruised right knee. He isn't expected to need a stint on the disabled list.
Angels: OF Cameron Maybin sat out after feeling tightness in his side after making a running catch Monday. ... 3B Yunel Escobar will play a rehab game with Class A Inland Empire on Wednesday, and could return to the Angels on Thursday. He has missed two weeks with a strained hamstring.
UP NEXT
Braves: LHP Jaime Garcia (2-3, 3.58 ERA) has only one win in his last eight starts despite a string of decent performances. He is making his eighth start on the road, with just two in Atlanta.
Angels: RHP Jesse Chavez (4-6, 5.09) has been solid at home during his up-and-down season. He has never allowed a run to the Braves in four career appearances.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Atlanta - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Inciarte grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Markakis singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Kemp singled to right, Markakis to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Adams singled to right, Markakis thrown out at home, Adams to second, Kemp to second, Kemp to third advancing on throw. | 0 | 0 |
| Flowers struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Bartolo Colon pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| Young Jr. grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun lined out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols singled to shallow center. Valbuena walks, Pujols to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Simmons struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Ruiz fouled out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Santana struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Peterson grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Bartolo Colon pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| Revere lined out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Pennington struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Espinosa grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Swanson grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Inciarte walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Markakis flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Kemp homered to center (421 feet), Inciarte scored. | 2 | 0 |
| Adams struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Bartolo Colon pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| Graterol singled to center. | 2 | 0 |
| Young Jr. grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Graterol out at second. | 2 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded into fielder's choice to second, Young Jr. safe at second on throwing error by second baseman Peterson. | 2 | 0 |
| Pujols homered to left (405 feet), Young Jr. and Calhoun scored. | 2 | 3 |
| Valbuena singled to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Simmons safe at second on error by shortstop Swanson, Valbuena to third. | 2 | 3 |
| Revere grounded into fielder's choice to first, Valbuena scored, Simmons to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Pennington grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Simmons scored, Revere to second. | 2 | 5 |
| Espinosa singled to right center, Revere scored, Pennington to third. | 2 | 6 |
| Graterol grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Pennington scored, Espinosa safe at third on throwing error by pitcher Colón. | 2 | 7 |
| Young Jr. reached on bunt single to first, Espinosa scored, Graterol to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Calhoun singled to shallow left center, Graterol scored, Young Jr. to second. | 2 | 9 |
| Jackson relieved Colón. | 2 | 9 |
| Pujols walked, Young Jr. to third, Calhoun to second. | 2 | 9 |
| Valbuena lined into double play, second to shortstop, Calhoun doubled off second. | 2 | 9 |
| 9 Runs, 6 Hits, 3 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Flowers hit by pitch. | 2 | 9 |
| Ruiz grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Flowers out at second. | 2 | 9 |
| Santana struck out swinging. | 2 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Luke Jackson pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| Simmons singled to left. | 2 | 9 |
| Revere lined out to center. | 2 | 9 |
| Pennington struck out swinging, Simmons stole second. | 2 | 9 |
| Espinosa flied out to center. | 2 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Peterson grounded out to second. | 2 | 9 |
| Swanson grounded out to second. | 2 | 9 |
| Inciarte lined out to center. | 2 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Luke Jackson pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| Graterol lined out to center. | 2 | 9 |
| Young Jr. doubled to shallow left. | 2 | 9 |
| Calhoun flied out to left. | 2 | 9 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 2 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Markakis grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 9 |
| Kemp grounded out to third. | 2 | 9 |
| Adams flied out to left. | 2 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Sam Freeman pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| S. Freeman relieved Jackson. | 2 | 9 |
| Bonifacio in right field. | 2 | 9 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 2 | 9 |
| Simmons walked. | 2 | 9 |
| Revere grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Simmons out at second. | 2 | 9 |
| Pennington singled to shallow left, Revere to second. | 2 | 9 |
| Revere to third, Pennington to second on wild pitch by S. Freeman. | 2 | 9 |
| Espinosa struck out swinging. | 2 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Flowers homered to right center (388 feet). | 3 | 9 |
| Ruiz singled to center. | 3 | 9 |
| Guerra relieved Bridwell. | 3 | 9 |
| Santana grounded into fielder's choice to first, Ruiz out at second, Santana to second on throwing error by shortstop Simmons. | 3 | 9 |
| Peterson struck out swinging. | 3 | 9 |
| Swanson flied out to left. | 3 | 9 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jason Motte pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| Motte relieved S. Freeman. | 3 | 9 |
| Graterol flied out to left. | 3 | 9 |
| Young Jr. flied out to left. | 3 | 9 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 3 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| David Hernandez pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Hernandez relieved Guerra. | 3 | 9 |
| Marte at third base. | 3 | 9 |
| Pennington at shortstop. | 3 | 9 |
| Inciarte singled to left center. | 3 | 9 |
| Bonifacio flied out to left. | 3 | 9 |
| Kemp grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Inciarte out at second. | 3 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Ian Krol pitching for Atlanta | ATL | LAA |
| Krol relieved Motte. | 3 | 9 |
| Pujols struck out swinging. | 3 | 9 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 3 | 9 |
| Marte grounded out to third. | 3 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| David Hernandez pitching for Los Angeles | ATL | LAA |
| Adams struck out swinging. | 3 | 9 |
| Flowers lined out to left. | 3 | 9 |
| Ruiz grounded out to second. | 3 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Atlanta Braves
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inciarte CF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | .288 | .341 | .405 |
| Markakis RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .295 | .369 | .383 |
Bonifacio RF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .132 | .150 | .211 |
| Kemp LF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .341 | .379 | .593 |
| Adams 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | .270 | .305 | .449 |
| Flowers C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .352 | .460 | .467 |
| Ruiz 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .268 | .333 | .390 |
| Santana DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .118 | .143 | .265 |
| Peterson 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .190 | .292 | .257 |
| Swanson SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .189 | .276 | .291 |
| Totals | 31 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 113 | |||
| BATTING HR: Kemp (9, 3rd inning off Bridwell 1 on, 2 Out); Flowers (3, 7th inning off Bridwell 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Kemp 2 (29), Flowers (15) 2-out RBI: Kemp 2 GIDP: Ruiz, Kemp Braves RISP: 1-4 (Swanson 0-1, Adams 1-1, Peterson 0-1, Flowers 0-1) Team LOB: 3 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Peterson (5, throw); Swanson (10, ground ball); Colón (2, throw) DP: 1 (Peterson-Swanson). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 32,028 (70.4% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:47 |
| Weather | 66 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 9 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - John Tumpane, First Base - John Libka, Second Base - Ted Barrett, Third Base - Angel Hernandez |
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