ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols and Mike Trout are swinging the bats like there's no tomorrow. And after two underachieving months, the Los Angeles Angels are finally starting to resemble the team that won the AL West title last season.
Pujols homered twice, Trout and David Freese also went deep, and the Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 Monday night for their fifth straight victory. Just a week ago, they Halos were last in the league in team batting average and on-base percentage.
"It took us a while to get going, but we'll take it any time," Pujols said. "The main thing is being one of those eight teams in the postseason. Obviously, you wish you could have a better record than we have, and we're playing like we should have a better record. We know what kind of team we have here."
The Angels (28-24) have 13 homers in their last five games -- five coming in an 8-6 win over Detroit on Saturday during their four-game sweep of the Tigers.
"It's fun to watch," winning pitcher Garrett Richards said. "We've got a talented team like we did last year. We're a slow-starting team, as far as the history goes, but nobody in here doubts our ability to win ballgames. It's a special group."
Pujols extended the Angels' lead to 5-3 in the fifth inning with a solo shot to left off rookie Alex Colome, then hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Andrew Bellatti to end the scoring. It was his 13th this season and 533rd of his career, one shy of Jimmie Foxx for 17th place all-time.
"Albert's resume speaks for itself," Richards said. "He's a Hall of Famer. That guy with one swing of the bat can get you right back into a game, and he showed that tonight."
The three-time NL MVP, who has homered in four of his last five games, has 1,117 extra-base hits for his career -- tying Foxx and Ted Williams for 16th in that department.
"I haven't changed anything. I've been taking the same approach I've been taking for the 16 years that I've been a professional," Pujols said.
"My job every day is to get myself ready to play. Obviously, every night you want to get some hits and do something to help the ballclub, but that's impossible. So the most important thing is to stay positive and realize that it's a long season. Sooner or later, it you keep putting together good swings and quality at-bats, it's going to come through. And that's what's happened."
Richards (5-3) allowed three runs, six hits and three walks over six innings and struck out four. He was 4-0 with a 1.05 ERA in five starts last June en route to a 13-4 record, but his season ended 5 1-2 weeks prematurely after he tore a ligament in his left knee covering first base in a game at Boston.
Colome (3-2) gave up five runs, nine hits and three homers in six innings. The 26-year-old right-hander had allowed four home runs in his six previous starts this season -- all in an 11-5 home loss to the Yankees on May 11.
"Alex competed well against a hit lineup with some really good hitters," manager Kevin Cash said. "He made a couple of mistakes to their big boys and they made him pay. Ultimately, their home runs led to the outcome of the game."
Tampa Bay's Nick Franklin snapped an 0-for-25 drought in the fourth inning with a two-run homer that sliced the Angels' lead to 4-3. It was the switch-hitter's first hit of the season batting left-handed, after an 0-for-20 start against righties. Franklin missed the Rays' first 38 games with an oblique strain before returning to the lineup on May 17.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: LHP Matt Moore, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2014, is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Wednesday for Class-A Charlotte, after throwing live batting practice twice and two more times in extended spring training games.
Angels: RHP Mike Morin, whose stint on the DL with an oblique strain has created a ripple in the bullpen, is expected to begin playing catch late this week.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (5-4) won both of his starts last season against the Angels in matchups against Jered Weaver and Tuesday's mound opponent, C.J. Wilson. Last Wednesday, Archer pitched eight innings of two-hit ball in his duel with Seattle's Felix Hernandez and wound up with a no-decision in Tampa Bay's 3-0 loss.
Angels: Wilson (3-3) has a 3.12 ERA after eight starts, the left-hander's second-lowest at this stage of a season since becoming a full-time starter in 2010 with the Texas Rangers. That year, it was 2.55 through his first eight outings.
Pujols homered twice, Trout and David Freese also went deep, and the Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 Monday night for their fifth straight victory. Just a week ago, they Halos were last in the league in team batting average and on-base percentage.
"It took us a while to get going, but we'll take it any time," Pujols said. "The main thing is being one of those eight teams in the postseason. Obviously, you wish you could have a better record than we have, and we're playing like we should have a better record. We know what kind of team we have here."
The Angels (28-24) have 13 homers in their last five games -- five coming in an 8-6 win over Detroit on Saturday during their four-game sweep of the Tigers.
"It's fun to watch," winning pitcher Garrett Richards said. "We've got a talented team like we did last year. We're a slow-starting team, as far as the history goes, but nobody in here doubts our ability to win ballgames. It's a special group."
Pujols extended the Angels' lead to 5-3 in the fifth inning with a solo shot to left off rookie Alex Colome, then hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Andrew Bellatti to end the scoring. It was his 13th this season and 533rd of his career, one shy of Jimmie Foxx for 17th place all-time.
"Albert's resume speaks for itself," Richards said. "He's a Hall of Famer. That guy with one swing of the bat can get you right back into a game, and he showed that tonight."
The three-time NL MVP, who has homered in four of his last five games, has 1,117 extra-base hits for his career -- tying Foxx and Ted Williams for 16th in that department.
"I haven't changed anything. I've been taking the same approach I've been taking for the 16 years that I've been a professional," Pujols said.
"My job every day is to get myself ready to play. Obviously, every night you want to get some hits and do something to help the ballclub, but that's impossible. So the most important thing is to stay positive and realize that it's a long season. Sooner or later, it you keep putting together good swings and quality at-bats, it's going to come through. And that's what's happened."
Richards (5-3) allowed three runs, six hits and three walks over six innings and struck out four. He was 4-0 with a 1.05 ERA in five starts last June en route to a 13-4 record, but his season ended 5 1-2 weeks prematurely after he tore a ligament in his left knee covering first base in a game at Boston.
Colome (3-2) gave up five runs, nine hits and three homers in six innings. The 26-year-old right-hander had allowed four home runs in his six previous starts this season -- all in an 11-5 home loss to the Yankees on May 11.
"Alex competed well against a hit lineup with some really good hitters," manager Kevin Cash said. "He made a couple of mistakes to their big boys and they made him pay. Ultimately, their home runs led to the outcome of the game."
Tampa Bay's Nick Franklin snapped an 0-for-25 drought in the fourth inning with a two-run homer that sliced the Angels' lead to 4-3. It was the switch-hitter's first hit of the season batting left-handed, after an 0-for-20 start against righties. Franklin missed the Rays' first 38 games with an oblique strain before returning to the lineup on May 17.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: LHP Matt Moore, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2014, is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Wednesday for Class-A Charlotte, after throwing live batting practice twice and two more times in extended spring training games.
Angels: RHP Mike Morin, whose stint on the DL with an oblique strain has created a ripple in the bullpen, is expected to begin playing catch late this week.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (5-4) won both of his starts last season against the Angels in matchups against Jered Weaver and Tuesday's mound opponent, C.J. Wilson. Last Wednesday, Archer pitched eight innings of two-hit ball in his duel with Seattle's Felix Hernandez and wound up with a no-decision in Tampa Bay's 3-0 loss.
Angels: Wilson (3-3) has a 3.12 ERA after eight starts, the left-hander's second-lowest at this stage of a season since becoming a full-time starter in 2010 with the Texas Rangers. That year, it was 2.55 through his first eight outings.
10:05PM,EDT,June 1,2015
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 |
| Tampa Bay - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Kiermaier lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Butler grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria fouled out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Aybar grounded out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols singled to shallow right. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| DeJesus walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Forsythe grounded out to third, DeJesus to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Cabrera grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Freese homered to left center (406 feet). | 0 | 1 |
| Joyce struck out looking. | 0 | 1 |
| Pérez flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Nieuwenhuis singled to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Nieuwenhuis caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Franklin popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| Rivera grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 1 |
| Kiermaier doubled to deep center. | 0 | 1 |
| Butler singled to shallow center, Kiermaier scored. | 1 | 1 |
| Longoria singled to left, Butler to second. | 1 | 1 |
| DeJesus lined out to shortstop. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Giavotella singled to center. | 1 | 1 |
| Aybar singled to right, Giavotella to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Trout homered to left center (427 feet), Giavotella and Aybar scored. | 1 | 4 |
| Pujols flied out to center. | 1 | 4 |
| Calhoun safe at first on error by first baseman Forsythe. | 1 | 4 |
| Freese struck out looking, Calhoun stole second. | 1 | 4 |
| Joyce grounded out to second. | 1 | 4 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Forsythe walked. | 1 | 4 |
| Souza Jr. struck out looking. | 1 | 4 |
| Cabrera struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| Franklin homered to right (372 feet), Forsythe scored. | 3 | 4 |
| Rivera walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Kiermaier reached on infield single to second, Rivera to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Butler struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Pérez struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Nieuwenhuis flied out to left. | 3 | 4 |
| Giavotella singled to right. | 3 | 4 |
| Aybar flied out to right. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Longoria fouled out to first. | 3 | 4 |
| DeJesus lined out to center. | 3 | 4 |
| Forsythe grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Trout fouled out to catcher. | 3 | 4 |
| Pujols homered to left (400 feet). | 3 | 5 |
| Calhoun struck out looking. | 3 | 5 |
| Freese walked. | 3 | 5 |
| Joyce grounded out to second. | 3 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Souza Jr. grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| Cabrera lined out to left. | 3 | 5 |
| Franklin struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Pérez singled to shallow right. | 3 | 5 |
| Nieuwenhuis walked, Pérez to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Giavotella sacrificed to first, Pérez to third, Nieuwenhuis to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Aybar lined out to left. | 3 | 5 |
| Trout intentionally walked. | 3 | 5 |
| Pujols flied out to center. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Garrett Richards pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Rivera singled to center. | 3 | 5 |
| Álvarez relieved Richards. | 3 | 5 |
| Guyer hit for Kiermaier. | 3 | 5 |
| Guyer grounded into double play, first to shortstop, Rivera out at second. | 3 | 5 |
| Salas relieved Álvarez. | 3 | 5 |
| Butler flied out to center. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Ernesto Frieri pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Guyer in center field. | 3 | 5 |
| Frieri relieved Colomé. | 3 | 5 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Freese singled to center. | 3 | 5 |
| Joyce flied out to center. | 3 | 5 |
| Pérez walked, Freese to second. | 3 | 5 |
| Nieuwenhuis grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Joe Smith pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Smith relieved Salas. | 3 | 5 |
| Longoria grounded out to third. | 3 | 5 |
| DeJesus struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| Forsythe grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Bellatti pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | LAA |
| Bellatti relieved Frieri. | 3 | 5 |
| Giavotella lined out to center. | 3 | 5 |
| Aybar walked. | 3 | 5 |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 3 | 5 |
| Pujols homered to left center (427 feet), Aybar scored. | 3 | 7 |
| Calhoun flied out to center. | 3 | 7 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Cam Bedrosian pitching for Los Angeles | TB | LAA |
| Featherston at third base. | 3 | 7 |
| Bedrosian relieved Smith. | 3 | 7 |
| Souza Jr. struck out looking. | 3 | 7 |
| Cabrera lined out to center. | 3 | 7 |
| Franklin grounded out to first. | 3 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay Rays | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Kiermaier CF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .233 | .273 | .387 |
a-Guyer PH-CF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .298 | .367 | .421 |
| Butler DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .338 | .370 | .532 |
| Longoria 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .275 | .355 | .423 |
| DeJesus LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | .325 | .380 | .492 |
| Forsythe 1B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | .286 | .367 | .457 |
| Souza Jr. RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .232 | .326 | .463 |
| Cabrera SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .206 | .265 | .320 |
| Franklin 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .091 | .189 | .212 |
| Rivera C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | .165 | .213 | .256 |
| Totals | 32 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 131 | |||
| a-grounded to first for K Kiermaier in the 7th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Kiermaier (10, Richards) HR: Franklin (1, 4th inning off Richards 1 on, 2 Out) RBI: Butler (9), Franklin 2 (2) 2-out RBI: Butler, Franklin 2 GIDP: Guyer Rays RISP: 1-5 (DeJesus 0-1, Souza Jr. 0-1, Butler 1-2, Cabrera 0-1) Team LOB: 5 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Forsythe (3, ground ball) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 27,078 (59.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:55 |
| Weather | 72 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 7 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Mark Ripperger, First Base - Pat Hoberg, Second Base - Jeff Kellogg, Third Base - Alan Porter |
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