Pujols, Angels try to steal series in Toronto
The Angels haven’t had much to smile about throughout the summer. Last night, though, yet another prodigious blast by Albert Pujols lifted the spirits of everybody in the visiting dugout at Rogers Centre.
With his first-inning clout off Marco Estrada, the first baseman moved past Mark McGwire into 10th place on the all-time home run list. Pujols’ 584th MLB bomb also propelled Los Angeles to an 8-2 win over Toronto, setting up today’s rubber match. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv lean toward the Blue Jays, while Mike Scoscia’s troops enter as +245 underdogs. The over/under run figure rests at 9.5.
Pujols boasts a .314 career batting average vs. lefties, but one wonders if he’ll be able to inflict much damage against John Gibbons’ signature southpaw this evening. J.A. Happ (17-3, 3.05 ERA) is pursuing his 12th straight victory. Nonetheless, he’s 0-4 with an 8.00 ERA in four career assignments against the Halos.
For Scoscia’s squad, Jered Weaver (8-11, 5.47) will stride to the mound for the 25th time in 2016. The Yankees tagged the former All-Star for five runs and 10 hits nearly a week ago. Interestingly, however, Weaver holds a mark of 10-2 with a 3.42 ERA in 13 career meetings with Toronto.
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The Blue Jays desperately want to seize command of the AL East from Boston. What better way to do so than by dispatching a basement-dwelling foe? Roll with the organization based in the Great White North.
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