Pujols hits milestone with 500th HR
said. “That’s the Albert I’m used to seeing. Full, healthy, 100 percent healthy.”
The 500th homer went to left-center field at Nationals Park, on an 89 mph pitch with the count at 1-2.
“That pitch was supposed to be low and away,” Jordan said, “and I guess I tried too hard to get it there.”
Pujols clapped his hands together a few strides before trotting home, then pointed both index fingers to the sky. As soon as he touched the plate, Pujols was greeted by his Angels teammates, who streamed over from the visiting dugout.
“I was pretty emotional running the bases,” Pujols said.
Fans gave Pujols a partial standing ovation, and he acknowledged the spectators by tipping his red batting helmet as he approached the dugout. After heading down the steps, he came back out for a curtain call.
“To have more than 19,000 players who wore a big league uniform and to have only 26 players to do this, it’s pretty special,” Pujols said.
Notes
Major League Baseball suspended four players involved in last Sunday’s brawl between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers.
Milwaukee catcher Martin Maldonado was suspended five games while outfielder Carlos Gomez was suspended three games. Pittsburgh outfielder Travis Snider received a two-game penalty, with catcher Russell Martin also missing one game.
Maldonado began his suspension with Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres. Gomez decided to appeal and was in his usual leadoff position. Manager Ron Roenicke said he thought a decision could take a couple weeks.
» Braves left-hander Mike Minor’s season debut has been pushed back so he can make one more minor-league start in his recovery from tendinitis in his left shoulder.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez says Minor will start for Double-A Mississippi in Pensacola on Friday.
Before the announcement, Minor had been tentatively scheduled to start for Atlanta on Saturday against Cincinnati.
» Major League Baseball has acknowledged it failed to correct a pitch count after Tampa Bay shortstop Yunel Escobar struck out in an at-bat that was completed after a replay review.
After a replay delay of 1 minute, 47 seconds in Tuesday night’s game against Minnesota, umpires incorrectly ruled the count on Escobar was 3-2. Escobar struck out on the next pitch after already taking four balls.