Pujols ties Willie Mays with 660th home run
The Los Angeles Angels slugger hits a two-run shot that helps lead the Angels to a 5-3victory over the Colorado Rockies.
A few weeks ago, Albert Pujols received a text out of the blue: “It’s your time now. Go get it.”
That meant a lot coming from none other than Willie Mays, the Hall of Famer he was trying to catch.
Pujols tied Mays for fifth place on the career homer list with a two-run shot in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied for a 5-3 win over the slumping Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
“To be able to have my name in the sentence with Willie Mays is unbelievable,” Pujols said. “I’m really humbled.”
Trailing 3-2, the 40-year-old Pujols lined a fastball from Carlos Estevez (1-3) into the empty seats in left field for his 660th homer. He was eagerly greeted by his teammates following his first homer since Aug. 4.
“I was just telling them, ‘Finally, I hit one in the air,’” Pujols cracked.
Pujols now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696) on the career home run list.
“Everybody knew what was at stake. Everybody knew what was going on,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “It was almost like a walk-off reaction when he hit it. Everybody was thrilled for him.”
The ball was easily retrieved from the stands with no fans to fight over the keepsake — or celebrate the milestone. Pujols will keep the ball, but his bat went to third base coach Brian Butterfield, a Mays fan.
The secret to Pujols’ prodigious power? He doesn’t try to go deep. That simple.
“You go out there and try put a good swing,” Pujols said. “Every 660 that I have now, that’s what I try to do every time.”
It was a crazy day at the plate for the Angels, who had more walks (10) than hits (six). They also had a hit batter and reached on an error as the Rockies pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone.
Andrew Heaney (4-3) threw seven efficient innings for Los Angeles, allowing three runs and no walks while striking out eight. Matt Andriese tossed two solid innings to earn a save for the second straight game.
The Angels took two of three from the Rockies and wrapped up a six-game trip with a 3-3 mark.
“It was a perfect moment for him and for us,” Maddon said. “We’re still not out of this thing mathematically and to get a big knock like that, it can help pick up our spirits for the next couple of days.”
Colorado continued its fall after an 11-3 start. The team dropped to 10-22 since Aug. 9.
Kevin Pillar and Charlie Blackmon hit back-toback RBI doubles in the third for Colorado. Matt Kemp added a solo homer.
Rockies starter Ryan Castellani had an intriguing line: 5 2/3 innings pitched, one hit, one unearned run, four strikeouts, one hit batter and six walks. He didn’t surrender his first hit until Max Stassi singled in the fifth.