Pujols lifts Halos; Ducks lose again

By OC Tribune Staff on April 29, 2017 • ( Leave a comment )

ALBERT PUJOLS hit the game-winning home run Friday in the Angels’ 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers (Flickr/Eric Proust).

Hey, the Angels are in a pennant race! A fifth straight win Friday – 6-3 over the Texas Rangers in Arlington – gave the Halos a 13-12 record, just three games back of the Houston Astros in the American League West.

The team was able to again put together good starting pitching with just-enough hitting. Tyler Skaggs held the home team to one run on four hits in five innings. The Angels smashed three home runs, including the game-winner by Albert Pujols. He launched a three-run shot in the eighth inning.

Other home runs were by Mike Trout and Yunel Escobar.

“He’s been driving in runs all along, even though maybe some hits haven’t fallen in for him, he’s hitting the ball hard and driving in runs,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said about Pujols. “We know what he can do, and it’s good to see him feeling a little more comfortable in the box.”

Jesse Chavez will make the start for the Angels Saturday.

DUCKS FALL 2-1, FALL BEHIND 2-0

As if they didn’t need reminding, the Edmonton Oilers are not the Calgary Flames. The Ducks swept the latter in four games in the first Stanley Cup playoff series, and now are in danger of being swept themselves.

The Orange County team fell 2-1 Friday night at Honda Center, losing their home ice advantage and going back to Edmonton with their backs to the wall.

“That’s playoff hockey. Bounces go your way and they don’t go your way,” Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. “We have to keep working. We dropped two in our building. We have to go up there and focus on Game 3.”

Trailing 2-0 in the third period, they got a goal from Cam Fowler, but that was as close as the Ducks could get as Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot made 39 saves on 40 shots.

Game 3 will be on Sunday and Game 4 on Wednesday. If necessary, a fifth game will be on Friday, May 5 back in Anaheim.