ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols left in the sixth inning of the Angels 7-3 win over Texas Friday night with what manager Mike Scioscia described as stiffness in his back.
When the Angels take the field at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports 1 for Game 2 of their weekend series with the Rangers, Pujols won't be in the lineup because of his back ailment.
The Angels slugger says he felt something in his lower back while heading home scoring the Angels fifth run of the game on a two-RBI single by Erick Aybar in the fifth inning Friday night.
"I don't know how but I kind of had like delayed back spasms," said Pujols who's hitting .255 with 16 home runs and 44 RBI in 71 games this season. "I couldn't even move.
"Like three quarters of the way to the plate it kind of locked on me like a grab. It was pretty sore yesterday."
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Pujols underwent treatment upon arriving to the ballpark Saturday and is scheduled to undergo more treatment to see how his back responds. If all goes well he could be back in the lineup Sunday.
"I think I could get in the game today but I think it's pretty smart to give it another day because I don't want to take two or three steps back," he said. "I think it's something that (we'll) see how it feels tomorrow. I feel a little sore today but not as bad as I thought I was going to be."
