ANAHEIM, Calif. -- After 17 seasons in the big leagues, Albert Pujols already knows how to navigate every peak and valley a hitter can encounter.
When he followed up an ugly five-game hitless stretch with six hits and three homers in the past two games, nobody around the Los Angeles Angels was remotely surprised their slugger found his way back.
Pujols hit a three-run homer and a two-run double, and the Angels snapped the Philadelphia Phillies' five-game winning streak with a 7-1 victory Tuesday night.
Pujols followed up his go-ahead double off Aaron Nola (8-7) in the fifth inning with his 608th career homer in the seventh off reliever Mark Leiter. The slugger is one homer behind Sammy Sosa for eighth place in baseball history.
"This game gives to you and takes away, too," Pujols said. "If you go out there and get a base hit every time or get a zero every time, I don't think this game would be fun. The thing about this game is it challenges you, and you get mentally stronger."
Pujols went 3 for 28 on the Angels' road trip last week, and his first of two homers last Sunday in Toronto snapped a season-worst hitless drought of 24 at-bats. The three-time NL MVP was right back on track against Philadelphia in the Halos' return for a nine-game homestand.
"He had a tough beginning of that road trip, but this is what Albert can do," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "When he gets locked in and he's not missing pitches, he can put a team on his shoulders and carry them."
Pujols went 3 for 4 in his 23rd career game with at least five RBI. That's the 11th-most in history, tied with Barry Bonds and Cecil Fielder.
"I wish that Scioscia gave Pujols the night off, because he did some damage," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
Tommy Joseph drove in the only run in the first inning for the Phillies, who failed to match their longest winning streak of the season in the opener of an eight-game road trip.
BIG FAN
Mike Trout went 2 for 4 and scored two runs in his fifth career game against the team that was his favorite while growing up in southern New Jersey. The two-time AL MVP doubled his career hit total against the Phillies, improving to 4 for 21.
STRONG STARTS
A rare summer rainstorm in Orange County wiped out batting practice, but the skies were dry when Nola and Ricky Nolasco (5-12) went to work.
Nolasco pitched six innings of one-run ball for the Angels, earning his first victory in a month.
"It was one of those days when it was a grind," Nolasco said.
Nola yielded eight hits over six innings in just his second loss since mid-June. He didn't give up a run until he walked Trout and gave up Pujols' double to the opposite field.
"It was a mistake," said Nola, who also gave up a third-inning single to Pujols. "He's a veteran guy. He's going to hit mistakes. I didn't make my pitches to him."
The Angels got two-out singles in four consecutive innings against Nola, but couldn't score until Pujols' big hit.
Pujols then volleyed his 17th homer of the season to left after Kaleb Cowart and Trout singled.
NEW GUY
Right-hander Drew Anderson became the 11th player to make his big-league debut for Philadelphia this season when he pitched the eighth inning. He yielded two hits and two runs, but also struck out Trout.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Escobar left in the eighth inning with tightness in his back. He'll be re-evaluated Wednesday. ... Huston Street has a mild rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder, and he won't throw until he feels better. He has been out for four weeks with a groin injury and has pitched only four innings this season. ... RF Kole Calhoun sat out with a sore right hamstring after getting hurt while running the bases Sunday. The injury isn't thought to be serious. ... LF Cameron Maybin is running the bases. He hasn't started a rehab assignment for his sprained knee.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jake Thompson (1-0, 4.50 ERA) takes traded Jeremy Hellickson's spot in the rotation. He pitched five scoreless innings against Atlanta last week in his season debut.
Angels: Former Phillies right-hander J.C. Ramirez (9-9, 4.29 ERA) struggled in his last start at Cleveland. He pitched 24 games for Philadelphia in 2013.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
When he followed up an ugly five-game hitless stretch with six hits and three homers in the past two games, nobody around the Los Angeles Angels was remotely surprised their slugger found his way back.
Pujols hit a three-run homer and a two-run double, and the Angels snapped the Philadelphia Phillies' five-game winning streak with a 7-1 victory Tuesday night.
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"This game gives to you and takes away, too," Pujols said. "If you go out there and get a base hit every time or get a zero every time, I don't think this game would be fun. The thing about this game is it challenges you, and you get mentally stronger."
Pujols went 3 for 28 on the Angels' road trip last week, and his first of two homers last Sunday in Toronto snapped a season-worst hitless drought of 24 at-bats. The three-time NL MVP was right back on track against Philadelphia in the Halos' return for a nine-game homestand.
"He had a tough beginning of that road trip, but this is what Albert can do," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "When he gets locked in and he's not missing pitches, he can put a team on his shoulders and carry them."
Pujols went 3 for 4 in his 23rd career game with at least five RBI. That's the 11th-most in history, tied with Barry Bonds and Cecil Fielder.
"I wish that Scioscia gave Pujols the night off, because he did some damage," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
Tommy Joseph drove in the only run in the first inning for the Phillies, who failed to match their longest winning streak of the season in the opener of an eight-game road trip.
BIG FAN
Mike Trout went 2 for 4 and scored two runs in his fifth career game against the team that was his favorite while growing up in southern New Jersey. The two-time AL MVP doubled his career hit total against the Phillies, improving to 4 for 21.
STRONG STARTS
A rare summer rainstorm in Orange County wiped out batting practice, but the skies were dry when Nola and Ricky Nolasco (5-12) went to work.
Nolasco pitched six innings of one-run ball for the Angels, earning his first victory in a month.
"It was one of those days when it was a grind," Nolasco said.
Nola yielded eight hits over six innings in just his second loss since mid-June. He didn't give up a run until he walked Trout and gave up Pujols' double to the opposite field.
"It was a mistake," said Nola, who also gave up a third-inning single to Pujols. "He's a veteran guy. He's going to hit mistakes. I didn't make my pitches to him."
The Angels got two-out singles in four consecutive innings against Nola, but couldn't score until Pujols' big hit.
Pujols then volleyed his 17th homer of the season to left after Kaleb Cowart and Trout singled.
NEW GUY
Right-hander Drew Anderson became the 11th player to make his big-league debut for Philadelphia this season when he pitched the eighth inning. He yielded two hits and two runs, but also struck out Trout.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Escobar left in the eighth inning with tightness in his back. He'll be re-evaluated Wednesday. ... Huston Street has a mild rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder, and he won't throw until he feels better. He has been out for four weeks with a groin injury and has pitched only four innings this season. ... RF Kole Calhoun sat out with a sore right hamstring after getting hurt while running the bases Sunday. The injury isn't thought to be serious. ... LF Cameron Maybin is running the bases. He hasn't started a rehab assignment for his sprained knee.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jake Thompson (1-0, 4.50 ERA) takes traded Jeremy Hellickson's spot in the rotation. He pitched five scoreless innings against Atlanta last week in his season debut.
Angels: Former Phillies right-hander J.C. Ramirez (9-9, 4.29 ERA) struggled in his last start at Cleveland. He pitched 24 games for Philadelphia in 2013.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Philadelphia - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Hernández reached on infield single to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Galvis flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Hernández to second on wild pitch by Nolasco. | 0 | 0 |
| Altherr safe at first on error by pitcher Nolasco, Hernández to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Joseph singled to left, Hernández scored, Altherr to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Herrera popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Franco struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Aaron Nola pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Trout flied out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Pujols struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Williams struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Kim doubled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Knapp lined out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Hernández safe at first on error by second baseman Cowart, Kim to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Galvis grounded into fielder's choice to second, Hernández out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Aaron Nola pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Valbuena grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Simmons grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Revere singled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Maldonado grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Altherr struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Joseph doubled to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Herrera grounded out to pitcher, Joseph to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Franco struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Aaron Nola pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Flores grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Cowart struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Escobar singled to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Trout singled to left, Escobar to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Pujols singled to left, Escobar thrown out at home, Trout to second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Williams singled to deep center. | 1 | 0 |
| Kim flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Knapp grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Williams out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Nola pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Valbuena flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Simmons grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Revere singled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Revere stole second. | 1 | 0 |
| Maldonado fouled out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Hernández flied out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Galvis walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Altherr grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Galvis out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Nola pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Flores grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| Cowart flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Escobar singled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Trout walked, Escobar to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Pujols doubled to right, Escobar and Trout scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Valbuena grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Joseph walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Herrera reached on bunt single to third, Joseph to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Franco flied out to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Williams flied out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Kim struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Nola pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Simmons singled to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Revere flied out to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Maldonado struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Flores grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Keynan Middleton pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Middleton relieved Nolasco. | 1 | 2 |
| Knapp doubled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Hernández reached on infield single to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Galvis lined out to center, Knapp to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Altherr struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Joseph struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Mark Leiter Jr. pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Leiter Jr. relieved Nola. | 1 | 2 |
| Cowart singled to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Trout singled to left, Cowart to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Pujols homered to left (367 feet), Cowart and Trout scored. | 1 | 5 |
| Valbuena hit by pitch. | 1 | 5 |
| Simmons grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Valbuena out at second. | 1 | 5 |
| Simmons stole second. | 1 | 5 |
| Revere grounded out to second. | 1 | 5 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Blake Parker pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Pennington at second base. | 1 | 5 |
| Robinson in right field. | 1 | 5 |
| Cowart at third base. | 1 | 5 |
| Parker relieved Middleton. | 1 | 5 |
| Herrera grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 5 |
| Franco flied out to left. | 1 | 5 |
| Williams grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Drew Anderson pitching for Philadelphia | PHI | LAA |
| Anderson relieved Leiter Jr.. | 1 | 5 |
| Maldonado flied out to center. | 1 | 5 |
| Pennington singled to center. | 1 | 5 |
| Cowart singled to right, Pennington to second. | 1 | 5 |
| Pennington stole third, Cowart stole second, Pennington scored, Cowart safe at third on throwing error by catcher Knapp. | 1 | 6 |
| Robinson hit sacrifice fly to right, Cowart scored. | 1 | 7 |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 1 | 7 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Troy Scribner pitching for Los Angeles | PHI | LAA |
| Scribner relieved Parker. | 1 | 7 |
| Kim walked. | 1 | 7 |
| Knapp grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Kim out at second. | 1 | 7 |
| Hernández lined out to left. | 1 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Philadelphia Phillies | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Hernández 2B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .290 | .354 | .414 |
| Galvis SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | .251 | .304 | .415 |
| Altherr RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .287 | .361 | .546 |
| Joseph 1B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | .259 | .318 | .460 |
| Herrera CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .278 | .320 | .450 |
| Franco 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .226 | .284 | .400 |
| Williams LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .276 | .318 | .500 |
| Kim DH | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 | .250 | .625 | .500 |
| Knapp C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .252 | .359 | .374 |
| Totals | 34 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 141 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Kim (1, Nolasco); Joseph (22, Nolasco); Knapp (8, Middleton) RBI: Joseph (54) GIDP: Knapp 2, Altherr Phillies RISP: 2-16 (Williams 0-1, Herrera 0-2, Franco 0-3, Kim 0-1, Hernández 1-2, Galvis 0-2, Altherr 0-2, Joseph 1-2, Knapp 0-1) Team LOB: 9 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Knapp (4, throw) Outfield Assist: Williams (Escobar at Home). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 36,344 (79.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:20 |
| Weather | 80 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 3 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Quinn Wolcott, First Base - Brian O'Nora, Second Base - Ben May, Third Base - Scott Barry |
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