Pujols hits milestone home run, Angels beat Jays 8-2
TORONTO (AP) Albert Pujols moved into sole possession of 10th place on baseball's all-time list by hitting his 584th home run, Matt Shoemaker pitched six shutout innings and the Los Angeles Angels snapped an 11-game road losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 on Wednesday night.
Pujols finished 4 for 4 with three RBIs. After he and Mike Trout hit back-to-back homers in the first, Pujols hit a sacrifice fly in the second, singled in the fourth and sixth innings, then capped his night with an RBI double in the eighth.
For Pujols, the homer broke a tie with Mark McGwire on the all-time list. A three-time MVP and 10-time All-Star, Pujols is two home runs shy of tying Frank Robinson for ninth place.
Two pitches after Trout hit his 24th home run, Pujols did the same. It was the fourth time this season the Angels have hit consecutive homers.
Both shots came off Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada, who allowed season-worsts of six runs and 10 hits in five innings. Estrada (7-6) is winless in his past three starts and has allowed six homers in that span.
Jett Bandy had a career-high four hits as the Angels won away from home for the first time since July 26 at Kansas City. They matched the 1963 squad for the third-longest road skid in Angels history. Los Angeles lost a record 14 straight road games in 1969.
Shoemaker (8-13) allowed three hits, walked one and struck out three to win consecutive starts for the second time this season.
Toronto came in tied with Boston atop the AL East with identical 71-54 records.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Cam Bedrosian (right middle finger) has been shut down after tests revealed a blood clot in his upper arm. He will visit a specialist for further treatment. ... RHP Huston Street had season-ending surgery on his right knee Wednesday. Street went 3-2 with a career-low nine saves and a 6.45 ERA. He is the sixth player to undergo season-ending surgery for the last-place Angels
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (sore right ring finger) missed his second straight game. ... OF Jose Bautista (left knee) was cleared to come off the disabled list Thursday after participating in a simulated game at Toronto's spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Jared Weaver (8-11, 5.47) will seek to avoid matching a career-worst streak of four straight losing starts.
Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (17-3, 3.05) can become the first 18-game winner in the majors Thursday. Happ has won 11 straight decisions. He's 0-4 with an 8.00 ERA in four career starts against Los Angeles.
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