OAKLAND, Calif. -- Albert Pujols
has been saying for about 15 years now that he will reflect on the many
milestones and special home runs once his career is through, and he
still hopes that is many seasons down the road.
"I've been blessed my whole career," Pujols said. "I was born to play this game and to hit."
Healthy legs powering him again at last, Pujols hit a two-run drive to make him one of four players with 10 35-homer seasons in their first 15 years, leading the Los Angeles Angels past AL ERA leader Sonny Gray and the Oakland Athletics 9-4 Wednesday.
He is eager to do anything to keep the Angels in the playoff mix.
"Albert's obviously put together a Hall of Fame career but we know it's not over yet," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's got as much passion to play this game now as he ever has."
Pujols had an RBI single in the first inning, then hit his 555th career homer in the second that tied Dominican Republic countryman Manny Ramirez for 14th on the all-time list. He joined Hall of Famers Willie Mays (10) and Mike Schmidt (11) and Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez (12) to have reached 35 home runs in 10 or more years in their first 15 seasons.
"It's something I don't look for every year, I just try to be healthy and do whatever it takes to help our organization win," Pujols said. "I got my legs back healthy and I felt great in spring training. ... Manny is probably one of the best right-handed hitters that ever played this game. He's pretty amazing. To be on the same page with him and along the way with so many great hitters that I've passed this year, it's awesome. It's something I don't try to get caught up too much. At the end of my career, I keep telling you guys for 15 years, I can look back and enjoy how blessed I've been."
Andrew Heaney (6-2) struck out six and didn't walk a batter in seven innings to end a six-start winless stretch. He had gone 0-2 since a victory against Texas on July 26.
Gray (12-7) lost his third straight decision, matching his career high with six earned runs allowed for the first time since exactly a year earlier on Sept. 2, 2014, at Seattle.
The All-Star righty gave up four straight singles to start the game. Gray's wild pitch scored the first of four runs in the inning.
Gray lost to the Angels for the first time in five starts this season after beginning 3-0.
The Angels won two in a row for the first time since a three-game winning streak Aug. 17-19. They also earned just their fifth victory in the last 22 road games.
David Murphy and David Freese each singled home runs in the first inning and C.J. Cron had an RBI groundout as Gray fell behind. Gray also dropped to 7-3 in 12 starts against the AL West this year and 19-8 for his career.
Josh Phegley hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first when the A's pulled back within 4-3.
"I gave up four and then we came back and put up three and then to give up two back there in the second, it kind of took the air right out of us," Gray said.
Oakland has homered in a season-high nine straight games, with 12 longballs. Brett Lawrie led off the eighth with his 15th home run against reliever Joe Smith.
Billy Burns and Danny Valencia returned to the Oakland lineup after each sat Tuesday to rest their ailing bodies. Valencia hit an RBI single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: 1B/LF Efren Navarro was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to give Los Angeles more depth at first given Pujols was designated hitter for the second straight game. Navarro came in to pinch-run in the seventh and stayed in to play 1B beginning the eighth.
Athletics: RHP reliever Evan Scribner has a tear in his lat muscle behind his pitching shoulder and is done for the season. He had a similar injury in 2011. ... OF Sam Fuld (back spasms) missed a third straight game and could need a few more days. ... Oakland optioned RHP Cody Martin to Triple-A Nashville a day after taking a loss in his first career start.
UP NEXT
Angels: Off-day Thursday. RHP Garrett Richards (12-10) pitches the series opener Friday against Texas, trying to improve on his 2-0 mark and 1.84 ERA through his first two starts of the year against the Rangers.
Athletics: After Thursday's off-day, RHP Aaron Brooks will face Seattle Mariners for the first time Friday. He makes his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday for his second big league stint of 2015.
---
Eds: This corrects that Pujols is one of four players with 10 35-home run seasons in his first 15 years.
"I've been blessed my whole career," Pujols said. "I was born to play this game and to hit."
Healthy legs powering him again at last, Pujols hit a two-run drive to make him one of four players with 10 35-homer seasons in their first 15 years, leading the Los Angeles Angels past AL ERA leader Sonny Gray and the Oakland Athletics 9-4 Wednesday.
He is eager to do anything to keep the Angels in the playoff mix.
"Albert's obviously put together a Hall of Fame career but we know it's not over yet," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's got as much passion to play this game now as he ever has."
Pujols had an RBI single in the first inning, then hit his 555th career homer in the second that tied Dominican Republic countryman Manny Ramirez for 14th on the all-time list. He joined Hall of Famers Willie Mays (10) and Mike Schmidt (11) and Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez (12) to have reached 35 home runs in 10 or more years in their first 15 seasons.
"It's something I don't look for every year, I just try to be healthy and do whatever it takes to help our organization win," Pujols said. "I got my legs back healthy and I felt great in spring training. ... Manny is probably one of the best right-handed hitters that ever played this game. He's pretty amazing. To be on the same page with him and along the way with so many great hitters that I've passed this year, it's awesome. It's something I don't try to get caught up too much. At the end of my career, I keep telling you guys for 15 years, I can look back and enjoy how blessed I've been."
Andrew Heaney (6-2) struck out six and didn't walk a batter in seven innings to end a six-start winless stretch. He had gone 0-2 since a victory against Texas on July 26.
Gray (12-7) lost his third straight decision, matching his career high with six earned runs allowed for the first time since exactly a year earlier on Sept. 2, 2014, at Seattle.
The All-Star righty gave up four straight singles to start the game. Gray's wild pitch scored the first of four runs in the inning.
Gray lost to the Angels for the first time in five starts this season after beginning 3-0.
The Angels won two in a row for the first time since a three-game winning streak Aug. 17-19. They also earned just their fifth victory in the last 22 road games.
David Murphy and David Freese each singled home runs in the first inning and C.J. Cron had an RBI groundout as Gray fell behind. Gray also dropped to 7-3 in 12 starts against the AL West this year and 19-8 for his career.
Josh Phegley hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first when the A's pulled back within 4-3.
"I gave up four and then we came back and put up three and then to give up two back there in the second, it kind of took the air right out of us," Gray said.
Oakland has homered in a season-high nine straight games, with 12 longballs. Brett Lawrie led off the eighth with his 15th home run against reliever Joe Smith.
Billy Burns and Danny Valencia returned to the Oakland lineup after each sat Tuesday to rest their ailing bodies. Valencia hit an RBI single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: 1B/LF Efren Navarro was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to give Los Angeles more depth at first given Pujols was designated hitter for the second straight game. Navarro came in to pinch-run in the seventh and stayed in to play 1B beginning the eighth.
Athletics: RHP reliever Evan Scribner has a tear in his lat muscle behind his pitching shoulder and is done for the season. He had a similar injury in 2011. ... OF Sam Fuld (back spasms) missed a third straight game and could need a few more days. ... Oakland optioned RHP Cody Martin to Triple-A Nashville a day after taking a loss in his first career start.
UP NEXT
Angels: Off-day Thursday. RHP Garrett Richards (12-10) pitches the series opener Friday against Texas, trying to improve on his 2-0 mark and 1.84 ERA through his first two starts of the year against the Rangers.
Athletics: After Thursday's off-day, RHP Aaron Brooks will face Seattle Mariners for the first time Friday. He makes his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday for his second big league stint of 2015.
---
Eds: This corrects that Pujols is one of four players with 10 35-home run seasons in his first 15 years.
3:35PM,EDT,September 2,2015
O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Sonny Gray pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Calhoun reached on infield single to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout singled to right center, Calhoun to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun scored, Trout to second on wild pitch by Gray. | 1 | 0 |
| Pujols reached on infield single to shortstop, Trout to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Murphy singled to right, Trout scored, Pujols to third, Murphy to second advancing on throw. | 2 | 0 |
| Aybar grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Cron grounded out to shortstop, Pujols scored. | 3 | 0 |
| Freese singled to deep right, Murphy scored. | 4 | 0 |
| Iannetta flied out to right. | 4 | 0 |
| 4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Burns grounded out to third. | 4 | 0 |
| Canha fouled out to catcher. | 4 | 0 |
| Lawrie doubled to right. | 4 | 0 |
| Valencia singled to right, Lawrie scored. | 4 | 1 |
| Phegley homered to center (422 feet), Valencia scored. | 4 | 3 |
| Smolinski reached on infield single to shortstop. | 4 | 3 |
| Butler singled to shallow right, Smolinski to third. | 4 | 3 |
| Reddick struck out swinging. | 4 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Sonny Gray pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Featherston struck out swinging. | 4 | 3 |
| Calhoun walked. | 4 | 3 |
| Trout flied out to right. | 4 | 3 |
| Pujols homered to left center (389 feet), Calhoun scored. | 6 | 3 |
| Murphy reached on infield single to second. | 6 | 3 |
| Aybar grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Murphy out at second. | 6 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Semien struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Burns lined out to right. | 6 | 3 |
| Canha safe at first on throwing error by shortstop Aybar. | 6 | 3 |
| Lawrie flied out to center. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Sonny Gray pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Cron grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 3 |
| Freese struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Iannetta grounded out to first. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Valencia lined out to left. | 6 | 3 |
| Phegley flied out to left. | 6 | 3 |
| Smolinski grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Sonny Gray pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Featherston grounded out to first. | 6 | 3 |
| Calhoun singled to left. | 6 | 3 |
| Trout lined out to right. | 6 | 3 |
| Pujols flied out to right. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Butler doubled to deep right center. | 6 | 3 |
| Reddick struck out looking. | 6 | 3 |
| Semien singled to right, Butler to third. | 6 | 3 |
| Burns popped out to second. | 6 | 3 |
| Canha flied out to right. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Sonny Gray pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Murphy grounded out to first. | 6 | 3 |
| Aybar bunt grounded out to pitcher. | 6 | 3 |
| Cron grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Lawrie flied out to left. | 6 | 3 |
| Valencia popped out to second. | 6 | 3 |
| Phegley struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Edward Mujica pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Mujica relieved Gray. | 6 | 3 |
| Freese flied out to right. | 6 | 3 |
| Iannetta struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Featherston grounded out to shortstop. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Smolinski popped out to second. | 6 | 3 |
| Butler struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Reddick lined out to center. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Ryan Dull pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Dull relieved Mujica. | 6 | 3 |
| Calhoun struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Trout fouled out to first. | 6 | 3 |
| Pujols grounded out to third. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Heaney pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Semien flied out to center. | 6 | 3 |
| Burns flied out to center. | 6 | 3 |
| Canha struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Pat Venditte pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Venditte relieved Dull. | 6 | 3 |
| Murphy singled to right. | 6 | 3 |
| Cowgill ran for Murphy. | 6 | 3 |
| Aybar grounded out to second, Cowgill to second. | 6 | 3 |
| Alvarez relieved Venditte. | 6 | 3 |
| Cron doubled to left, Cowgill scored. | 7 | 3 |
| Cowart ran for Cron. | 7 | 3 |
| Cowart to third on wild pitch by Alvarez. | 7 | 3 |
| Freese reached on infield single to first, Cowart scored. | 8 | 3 |
| Navarro ran for Freese. | 8 | 3 |
| Iannetta struck out swinging. | 8 | 3 |
| Featherston flied out to right. | 8 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Joe Smith pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Cowgill in left field. | 8 | 3 |
| Cowart at third base. | 8 | 3 |
| Navarro at first base. | 8 | 3 |
| Smith relieved Heaney. | 8 | 3 |
| Lawrie homered to left center (413 feet). | 8 | 4 |
| Valencia struck out looking. | 8 | 4 |
| Vogt hit for Phegley. | 8 | 4 |
| Vogt tripled to deep right. | 8 | 4 |
| Pridie hit for Smolinski. | 8 | 4 |
| Pridie struck out swinging. | 8 | 4 |
| Butler grounded out to third. | 8 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Dan Otero pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Vogt catching. | 8 | 4 |
| Pridie in left field. | 8 | 4 |
| Otero relieved Alvarez. | 8 | 4 |
| Calhoun singled to right. | 8 | 4 |
| Trout doubled to deep center, Calhoun to third. | 8 | 4 |
| Pujols grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Calhoun scored. | 9 | 4 |
| Cowgill grounded out to second, Trout to third, Pujols to second. | 9 | 4 |
| Abad relieved Otero. | 9 | 4 |
| Aybar grounded into fielder's choice to third, Trout out at home, Pujols to third. | 9 | 4 |
| Cowart lined out to right. | 9 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Álvarez relieved Smith. | 9 | 4 |
| Reddick flied out to center. | 9 | 4 |
| Semien singled to center. | 9 | 4 |
| Burns grounded into double play, third to second to first, Semien out at second. | 9 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles Angels | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Calhoun RF | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | .268 | .326 | .441 |
| Trout CF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | .297 | .397 | .575 |
| Pujols DH | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .249 | .309 | .495 |
| Murphy LF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .294 | .332 | .439 |
Cowgill PR-LF
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .177 | .227 | .290 |
| Aybar SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .274 | .307 | .331 |
| Cron 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .271 | .306 | .436 |
Cowart PR-3B
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .200 | .289 | .325 |
| Freese 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .243 | .310 | .397 |
Navarro PR-1B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .260 | .305 | .312 |
| Iannetta C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | .180 | .286 | .312 |
| Featherston 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .130 | .193 | .190 |
| Totals | 41 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 149 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Cron (15, Alvarez); Trout (25, Otero) HR: Pujols (35, 2nd inning off Gray 1 on, 2 Out) RBI: Murphy (38), Cron 2 (32), Freese 2 (45), Pujols 3 (80) 2-out RBI: Freese, Pujols 2 Angels RISP: 5-11 (Murphy 1-1, Cowgill 0-1, Cowart 0-1, Freese 2-2, Aybar 0-2, Pujols 1-2, Cron 1-2) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Aybar (12, throw) DP: 1 (Cowart-Featherston-Navarro). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | O.co Coliseum, Oakland, CA |
| Attendance | 13,392 (38.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:53 |
| Weather | 67 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 10 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Chad Fairchild, First Base - Pat Hoberg, Second Base - Jim Joyce, Third Base - Kerwin Danley |
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