Pujols’ homer helps Angels edge Red Sox

ANAHEIM — Albert Pujols homered for the 20th time this season, Hector Santiago continually navigated out of trouble and Joe Smith recorded four big outs, sending the Angels to a 5-2 win over the Red Sox on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.

Pujols turned on a first-pitch cutter from Drew Pomeranz in the third inning and sent it to left-center field a projected 434 feet, according to Statcast™, giving the Angels a 3-2 lead. Johnny Giavotella added an RBI single in the fourth and Jett Bandy hit a run-scoring double in the sixth, ultimately giving the Angels their 14th win in the last 21 games.

Mookie Betts led off the game with a home run and Hanley Ramirez added an RBI single with one out in the first, but Santiago escaped a bases-loaded jam without any further damage, and the Red Sox didn’t score again.

Santiago allowed 10 baserunners and threw more than 100 pitches in the first four innings, but somehow managed to complete five innings of two-run ball. Smith then got the Angels into the eighth with a three-run lead by retiring all four batters he faced, giving him 7 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and lowering his ERA to 3.82.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDDistinguished company: Pujols’ third-inning homer made him one of just four players to amass 20 or more home runs in 15 of his first 16 seasons, along with Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson. It was also Pujols’ 1,190th extra-base hit, tying another Hall of Famer, Lou Gehrig, for ninth on the all-time list. With three more home runs, Pujols, sitting on 580, will tie his good friend, Mark McGwire, for 10th.

Mookie’s leadoff power: Betts’ leadoff homer was his sixth this season and the eighth of his young career. …

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