PUJOLS HOMERS PAST MAYS
Away
Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols passed Willie Mays for fifth place on the career home run list, hitting No. 661 on Friday night against Texas as the Angels beat the visiting Rangers 6-2.
Pujols connected for a solo homer with two outs in the fifth inning. He sent Wes Benjamin’s fastball on a 1-2 count over the wall in left field.
Pujols didn’t wait long to get No. 662, taking Demarcus Evans deep to left in his next at-bat. He led off the seventh to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 4-2.
The 40-year-old Pujols went into the game with just four home runs this season, and he had connected only once since Aug. 4.
Pujols now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696).
Pujols, who tied Mays last Sunday at Colorado, has one more season left on his contract with the Angels after this year.
The three-time MVP and 10-time All-star did most of his long-ball damage during
Angels 6, Rangers 2
his 11 seasons in St. Louis, where he hit 445 before signing with the Angels after the 2011 season.
He had six 40 or more HR seasons with the Cardinals, with his best year being 2006 when he hit 49 homers and drove in a career-high 137 runs.
Notable
Milwaukee Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy has rejoined the team just over six weeks after having a heart attack at Miller Park.
Murphy said he was feeling “pretty good” while talking to reporters before the Brewers’ game Friday night against with the Kansas City Royals. Murphy said he had hoped throughout his recovery he would be back before the end of the season.
“The part you take for granted sometimes until you don’t have it anymore is the connection, being together,” Murphy said. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s why I do it.”
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Murphy wouldn’t be on the bench Friday but would be before the end of the season. Murphy will remain with the Brewers for their seven-game road trip that starts Monday and concludes their regular season.
• Rays outfielder Austin Meadows was placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain that will keep him sidelined into the postseason.
• After eight hitless atbats to start his major league career, Phillies OF Mickey Moniak delivered his first hit Friday night against Toronto. Moniak was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 out of La Costa Canyon High. He also scored two runs.