– Box score
He wasnt the Angels player to strike a crucial homer on Tuesday, as catcher Max Stassi smacked a three-run blast off lefty Justus Sheffield in the third. It was the first homer of the year for Stassi.
” His timing was better,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He clicked it really great. You knew it was a homer the moment he hit it. I believe he knew it likewise. He simply clicked it and kept it fair.”
Pujols, dealing with an 0-2 count, didnt fall for Cortes shenanigans and leapt all over a sinker over the heart of the plate, sending it over the left-field fence. It was the first homer of the year for Pujols, who stood to appreciate it before trotting to very first base. The solo blast, which had an exit velocity of 97.1 miles per hour and was projected by Statcast to take a trip 373 feet, provided the Angels a 6-2 lead in the 5th.
” He was frisky tonight, and played really well,” Maddon stated. “You just see the bounce in his step.
ANAHEIM– Albert Pujols struck profession homer No. 657 in the Angels home opener, a 10-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night, and it included reliever Nestor Cortes attempting to trick him with an extremely decreased shipment. It became part of a strong cumulative effort from the offense, as all nine starters in the lineup reached base securely and the 10 runs connected a club record for a house opener, embeded in 1980 against Cleveland.
ANAHEIM– Albert Pujols struck career homer No. 657 in the Angels house opener, a 10-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night, and it featured reducer Nestor Cortes trying to trick him with an extremely decreased delivery. It belonged to a strong collective effort from the
Pujols, in his 20th Major League season, is now three homers away from connecting Hall of Famer Willie Mays for fifth on the all-time list. The 40-year-old is currently the lone member of the 650-homer, 650-double club. Maddon saw some positive signs from Pujols in the first series in spite of him going 1-for-12 at the plate versus the As and was pleased to see him start.
3rd baseman Anthony Rendon also struck a two-run homer in his Angels debut in the 8th inning. Rendon missed the very first four video games of the season with an oblique injury.
Maddon was especially pleased to see Ohtani come through, as he was 1-for-12 on the season before his double off the fence in the 6th. Ohtani likewise failed to tape-record an out on the mound in his start on Sunday, so Maddon is enthusiastic this will help turn it around for Ohtani mentally.
It was the very first homer of the year for Pujols, who stood to appreciate it before trotting to first base. You knew it was a homer the minute he struck it. Pujols, in his 20th Major League season, is now three homers away from tying Hall of Famer Willie Mays for fifth on the all-time list. Maddon saw some positive indications from Pujols in the very first series in spite of him going 1-for-12 at the plate against the As and was pleased to see him get going.
” He requires his own personal confidence,” Maddon said. Its all about self-esteem, and once that shows up, hes just going to take off.”
” It felt good simply to be out there,” Anthony said. “Just to be out there and having a live ball coming at you.
Rhett Bollinger covers the Angels for MLB.com. He formerly covered the Twins from 2011-18. Follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger and Facebook.
David Fletcher also kept up his blistering start to the year with 2 hits and two strolls to set the tone atop the lineup, while Shohei Ohtani showed a favorable sign after struggling early in the year with an RBI double in the sixth that had an exit velocity of 111.9 mph. It was a nice bounceback for the Angels, who struck.172 (5-for-29) with runners in scoring position in Oakland, losing three of 4.
” It was just a truly great night for a great deal of individuals this evening,” Maddon said. “How about Stassi? Ive not seen this person prior to this year. And I understand he had some concerns hitting in the past, but Im not seeing that. You could talk about everybody. They were impressive tonight.”
And I understand he had some issues striking in the past, however Im not seeing that.
