ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols
checked his phone between innings and saw a text from his wife in the
stands. Deidre Pujols bluntly told him to stop pressing so hard for his
600th homer.
Although the Los Angeles Angels slugger isn't strictly supposed to be using his phone during games, that message was exactly what Pujols needed to hear in order to reach the next milestone in a remarkable career.
Pujols hit a grand slam in the fourth inning Saturday night, becoming the ninth member of the 600-homer club during the Angels' 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
After three straight homerless games since hitting No. 599, Pujols reached the mark in theatrical style, putting a low pitch from Ervin Santana (7-3) high down the left-field line and into Angel Stadium's short porch for his 14th grand slam. The Anaheim crowd roared while fireworks soared overhead for the 37-year-old's ninth homer of the season and his 155th for the Angels.
Pujols paused at the dugout steps to wave to the crowd -- and to plant a kiss on Deidre, who had given him the same message Friday night.
"I'm glad I listen to her one in a while," Pujols said with a smile. "At a moment like this, I always start putting pressure on myself. Usually she'll give me some encouragement. It was just a perfect time to check my phone, and I'm glad I did."
Pujols staked the Angels to a 7-1 lead with his ninth homer this season. He became the fourth youngest to reach the 600-homer club -- and the first to join it with a slam.
Santana had yielded just one earned run in 29 innings on the road this year before struggling at Angel Stadium, where he was Pujols' teammate during the 2012 season after the slugger signed as a free agent and before Santana was traded to Kansas City.
"I mean, I'm not the only one, you know?" Santana said. "I'm probably No. 599 of the 600 club. I'm happy for him. I'm glad he got it done."
Actually, Santana is one of 386 pitches to give up a homer to Pujols, who has homered against all 30 teams and in 37 ballparks.
Andrelton Simmons and Kole Calhoun hit back-to-back homers in the third inning for the Angels.
Max Kepler homered for Minnesota.
BIG SHOE
Matt Shoemaker (5-3) pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning for his fourth victory in his last five starts. After Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Kepler's RBI single, Shoemaker found his groove and largely limited the Minnesota lineup that scored 11 runs on Friday.
The Angels went ahead in the third when Simmons delivered a two-run shot to left for his sixth homer and Calhoun added a shot to right for his eighth. Pujols came up next with a chance to give the Angels back-to-back-to-back homers -- but he struck out on three pitches.
An inning later, Pujols got it done.
"Albert chasing history, I think that we can all appreciate that," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "A little tough to applaud when it's a grand slam that kind of puts you down by six, but give him credit."
NICE CATCH
The homer was caught on the fly by Scott Steffel, a 23-year-old graphic designer and die-hard Angels fan who had been coming to games with his father and brother all week since seeing Pujols' 599th homer. Steffel presented the ball to Pujols on the field after the game.
NOT SMOOTH
Santana dropped to 1/3 in four career starts against the franchise that signed him in 2000 and employed him for 13 years. He still ranks fifth in Angels history with 223 games started and seventh with 96 victories.
TROUT OUT
Mike Trout will get the cast off of his left hand Sunday, and he begins rehabilitation Monday on his injured left thumb. He's still expected to be out for at least five more weeks, and he says he won't stop sliding headfirst after injuring himself doing just that in Miami. "I just think I have to have more control when I dive headfirst," Trout said. "They say (feet first) doesn't slow you down, but it feels like it slows you down."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Cameron Maybin hasn't swung the bat since going on the disabled list with a bruised side muscle. Manager Mike Scioscia isn't sure whether Maybin will be ready to return on Friday as previously hoped. ... Reliever Cam Bedrosian (groin) had a solid rehab appearance and could be ready to return Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Twins: Right-handed 22-year-old Jose Berrios (3-1, 2.70 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season in the series finale.
Angels: Ricky Nolasco (2-5, 5.07 ERA) faces the Twins for the first time since they traded him and Alex Meyer to Los Angeles at the 2016 trade deadline. Nolasco and Meyer are both in the Angels' rotation.
---
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Minnesota Twins
Although the Los Angeles Angels slugger isn't strictly supposed to be using his phone during games, that message was exactly what Pujols needed to hear in order to reach the next milestone in a remarkable career.
Pujols hit a grand slam in the fourth inning Saturday night, becoming the ninth member of the 600-homer club during the Angels' 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
After three straight homerless games since hitting No. 599, Pujols reached the mark in theatrical style, putting a low pitch from Ervin Santana (7-3) high down the left-field line and into Angel Stadium's short porch for his 14th grand slam. The Anaheim crowd roared while fireworks soared overhead for the 37-year-old's ninth homer of the season and his 155th for the Angels.
Pujols paused at the dugout steps to wave to the crowd -- and to plant a kiss on Deidre, who had given him the same message Friday night.
"I'm glad I listen to her one in a while," Pujols said with a smile. "At a moment like this, I always start putting pressure on myself. Usually she'll give me some encouragement. It was just a perfect time to check my phone, and I'm glad I did."
Pujols staked the Angels to a 7-1 lead with his ninth homer this season. He became the fourth youngest to reach the 600-homer club -- and the first to join it with a slam.
Santana had yielded just one earned run in 29 innings on the road this year before struggling at Angel Stadium, where he was Pujols' teammate during the 2012 season after the slugger signed as a free agent and before Santana was traded to Kansas City.
"I mean, I'm not the only one, you know?" Santana said. "I'm probably No. 599 of the 600 club. I'm happy for him. I'm glad he got it done."
Actually, Santana is one of 386 pitches to give up a homer to Pujols, who has homered against all 30 teams and in 37 ballparks.
Andrelton Simmons and Kole Calhoun hit back-to-back homers in the third inning for the Angels.
Max Kepler homered for Minnesota.
BIG SHOE
Matt Shoemaker (5-3) pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning for his fourth victory in his last five starts. After Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Kepler's RBI single, Shoemaker found his groove and largely limited the Minnesota lineup that scored 11 runs on Friday.
The Angels went ahead in the third when Simmons delivered a two-run shot to left for his sixth homer and Calhoun added a shot to right for his eighth. Pujols came up next with a chance to give the Angels back-to-back-to-back homers -- but he struck out on three pitches.
An inning later, Pujols got it done.
"Albert chasing history, I think that we can all appreciate that," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "A little tough to applaud when it's a grand slam that kind of puts you down by six, but give him credit."
NICE CATCH
The homer was caught on the fly by Scott Steffel, a 23-year-old graphic designer and die-hard Angels fan who had been coming to games with his father and brother all week since seeing Pujols' 599th homer. Steffel presented the ball to Pujols on the field after the game.
NOT SMOOTH
Santana dropped to 1/3 in four career starts against the franchise that signed him in 2000 and employed him for 13 years. He still ranks fifth in Angels history with 223 games started and seventh with 96 victories.
TROUT OUT
Mike Trout will get the cast off of his left hand Sunday, and he begins rehabilitation Monday on his injured left thumb. He's still expected to be out for at least five more weeks, and he says he won't stop sliding headfirst after injuring himself doing just that in Miami. "I just think I have to have more control when I dive headfirst," Trout said. "They say (feet first) doesn't slow you down, but it feels like it slows you down."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Cameron Maybin hasn't swung the bat since going on the disabled list with a bruised side muscle. Manager Mike Scioscia isn't sure whether Maybin will be ready to return on Friday as previously hoped. ... Reliever Cam Bedrosian (groin) had a solid rehab appearance and could be ready to return Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Twins: Right-handed 22-year-old Jose Berrios (3-1, 2.70 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season in the series finale.
Angels: Ricky Nolasco (2-5, 5.07 ERA) faces the Twins for the first time since they traded him and Alex Meyer to Los Angeles at the 2016 trade deadline. Nolasco and Meyer are both in the Angels' rotation.
---
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
10:07PM,EDT,June 3,2017
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim,California
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim,California
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Minnesota - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Dozier flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Grossman walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Mauer lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Sanó singled to right, Grossman to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Kepler singled to right, Grossman scored, Sanó to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Polanco lined out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Simmons grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Calhoun lined out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Pujols walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Escobar singled to right center, Pujols to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Valbuena grounded into fielder's choice to second, Escobar out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Gimenez reached on bunt single to third. | 1 | 0 |
| E. Rosario struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Buxton flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Dozier struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Maldonado reached on infield single to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Pennington flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Revere grounded into double play, second to first, Maldonado out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Grossman struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Mauer doubled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Sanó grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 0 |
| Kepler struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Young Jr. hit by pitch. | 1 | 0 |
| Simmons homered to left (408 feet), Young Jr. scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Calhoun homered to right (392 feet). | 1 | 3 |
| Pujols struck out looking. | 1 | 3 |
| Escobar singled to left. | 1 | 3 |
| Valbuena flied out to left. | 1 | 3 |
| Maldonado grounded out to second. | 1 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Polanco grounded out to first. | 1 | 3 |
| Gimenez walked. | 1 | 3 |
| E. Rosario grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first, Gimenez out at second. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Pennington grounded out to second. | 1 | 3 |
| Revere singled to right. | 1 | 3 |
| Young Jr. walked, Revere to second. | 1 | 3 |
| Simmons popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Calhoun walked, Revere to third, Young Jr. to second. | 1 | 3 |
| Pujols homered to left (364 feet), Revere, Young Jr. and Calhoun scored. | 1 | 7 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 1 | 7 |
| 4 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Buxton grounded out to second. | 1 | 7 |
| Dozier flied out to center. | 1 | 7 |
| Grossman lined out to left. | 1 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Buddy Boshers pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Boshers relieved Santana. | 1 | 7 |
| Valbuena popped out to third. | 1 | 7 |
| Maldonado walked. | 1 | 7 |
| Pennington singled to left, Maldonado to second. | 1 | 7 |
| Revere grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Pennington out at second. | 1 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Mauer grounded out to second. | 1 | 7 |
| Sanó struck out swinging. | 1 | 7 |
| Kepler homered to center (403 feet). | 2 | 7 |
| Polanco grounded out to second. | 2 | 7 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Buddy Boshers pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Young Jr. reached on infield single to third. | 2 | 7 |
| Simmons grounded out to shortstop, Young Jr. to second. | 2 | 7 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second, Young Jr. to third. | 2 | 7 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 2 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Gimenez walked. | 2 | 7 |
| E. Rosario lined out to right. | 2 | 7 |
| Parker relieved Shoemaker. | 2 | 7 |
| Buxton struck out looking. | 2 | 7 |
| Dozier singled to shallow left, Gimenez to second. | 2 | 7 |
| Grossman lined out to right. | 2 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Matt Belisle pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Belisle relieved Boshers. | 2 | 7 |
| Escobar flied out to right. | 2 | 7 |
| Valbuena fouled out to third. | 2 | 7 |
| Maldonado singled to right center. | 2 | 7 |
| Pennington singled to center, Maldonado to second. | 2 | 7 |
| Revere lined out to center. | 2 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| David Hernandez pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Hernandez relieved Parker. | 2 | 7 |
| Mauer struck out swinging. | 2 | 7 |
| Sanó struck out swinging. | 2 | 7 |
| Kepler struck out swinging. | 2 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Alex Wimmers pitching for Minnesota | MIN | LAA |
| Wimmers relieved Belisle. | 2 | 7 |
| Young Jr. grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 7 |
| Simmons flied out to right. | 2 | 7 |
| Calhoun reached on infield single to shortstop. | 2 | 7 |
| Pujols flied out to center. | 2 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Damien Magnifico pitching for Los Angeles | MIN | LAA |
| Magnifico relieved Hernandez. | 2 | 7 |
| Polanco struck out swinging. | 2 | 7 |
| Gimenez walked. | 2 | 7 |
| E. Rosario walked, Gimenez to second. | 2 | 7 |
| Norris relieved Magnifico. | 2 | 7 |
| Buxton flied out to right. | 2 | 7 |
| Dozier flied out to center. | 2 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Minnesota Twins
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dozier 2B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | .241 | .336 | .412 |
| Grossman DH | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | .273 | .411 | .455 |
| Mauer 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .293 | .366 | .425 |
| Sanó 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | .299 | .408 | .592 |
| Kepler RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .269 | .350 | .467 |
| Polanco SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | .251 | .299 | .358 |
| Gimenez C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | .194 | .359 | .290 |
| E. Rosario LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | .263 | .298 | .421 |
| Buxton CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .193 | .275 | .273 |
| Totals | 32 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 158 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Mauer (11, Shoemaker) HR: Kepler (7, 6th inning off Shoemaker 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: Kepler 2 (25) 2-out RBI: Kepler 2 GIDP: E. Rosario Twins RISP: 1-7 (Buxton 0-1, Kepler 1-2, Sanó 0-1, Grossman 0-1, Polanco 0-1, Dozier 0-1) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 2 (Dozier-Mauer, Dozier-Polanco-Mauer). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 40,236 (88.4% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:18 |
| Weather | 69 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 9 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Tim Timmons, First Base - Will Little, Second Base - Jeff Kellogg, Third Base - Clint Fagan |
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