The Toronto Blue Jays are cold but not concerned. Sliding is not something you usually get excited for this much, but Mike Trout has a history of going into the Matrix for these things and turning a sure out into a safe call. “But he definitely made some pitches and got some big outs”.
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“He’s made some adjustments”, manager Mike Scioscia said.
“He has good life, good movement. To be that complete pitcher he has to use that whole package and he did tonight”.
While a prolific compiler of two-baggers throughout most of his career, the 36-year-old Pujols has largely become a home run and singles hitter the past two seasons, with Friday’s double giving him just 17 for the year.
Angels: Ricky Nolasco (5-14, 4.94) has just one win since joining Los Angeles, but it was a shutout at Angel Stadium.
An inning later, Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak botched a grounder to open the door for the Angels to score two more.
Edwin Encarnacion added a late two-run homer for the Blue Jays (81-66), who stayed even with Baltimore for the league’s two wild cards.
Sometimes the desire to put up big numbers in a walk year can cause players to press on the field, ultimately hampering their performance.
On the other side of the coin, the Blue Jays’ defence went to sleep behind some decent work by lefty Francisco Liriano, committing three errors, leading to four unearned runs.
“Eddie is steady”, said manager John Gibbons. He’s got a good fastball, he doesn’t throw anything straight and he’s got a nice changeup and a slider. “But we’re good enough for some wins. They’re competing, we’re just coming up short”. Jett Bandy left the game with back spasms.
Encarnacion quickly abandoned his post at first base.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Angels had Dickey in trouble but could not deliver what might have been an injurious blow. After Andrelton Simmons walked, Rafael Ortega’s flare dropped into shallow left field for a single.
Jered Weaver (11-12) matched his career high for losses despite throwing six mostly sharp innings of seven-hit ball for Los Angeles, striking out four.
The home run also enabled Pujols to move into sole possession of 50th place in career hits with 2,813, passing Hall of Famer George Sisler. “We ran into a little bit of a tough stretch”. Simmons was running on the play and was able to go all the way to third base when the ball rolled to the backstop. Trout is 2 for 4, including a double, with one RBI against him. Again, they were frustrated.
In the third inning, Toronto threatened when the No. 8 hitter Barney singled to left, followed by No. 9 hitter Josh Thole, who beat out an infield single.
The Angels took advantage by scoring a run in the bottom half.
In his last appearance Tuesday night, Stroman walked four batters in a game for the first time since June 26.
And he’s done it against two of the more powerful lineups in baseball. Calhoun’s double scored Escobar, and Trout followed with a single to bring Calhoun home. The Hall of Famer hit it for the Angels in Anaheim against the Kansas City Royals’ Bud Black, who now serves as a special assistant to Angels GM Billy Eppler. “So far this road trip, for two games, we’ve responded well”. It was Nolasco’s first win against Toronto and he has now recorded wins over every major league team but two – the Marlins and Indians.
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“It’s a very tough lineup to face”, Nolasco said. Richards tore his right ulnar collateral ligament May 1 but hopes to avoid Tommy John surgery through stem-cell therapy.
