Pujols Hits 1st Spring Homer As Angels Tie Dodgers
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Albert Pujols hit his first home run this spring and the L.A. Angels tied the L.A. Dodgers, 7-7, on Thursday.
Pujols connected off Dodgers starter Brett Anderson. Pujols had two hits and drove in two runs.
Andrew Heaney, competing for a spot in the Angels' rotation, gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk in 3 1-3 innings. Alex Guerrero hit a three-run homer during a five-run second.
The Angels acquired Heaney from the Dodgers in a trade for second baseman Howie Kendrick on Dec. 10. The Dodgers traded him to the Angels minutes after they got him from Miami in a deal for second baseman Dee Gordon and pitcher Dan Haren.
"It's frustrating to feel like I had my best stuff and the results turn out like that," he said.
Anderson allowed three runs and seven hits in 1 2-3 innings. He said his warmup routine was disrupted by uncertainty about when the Angels would arrive at Camelback Ranch from their camp in Tempe.
"I stopped because they said their bus wasn't here," Anderson said. "So, I sat down for a little bit. Then, I did a re-warmup and then kind of expedited the process just to be ready for the first inning."
"But it wasn't like I was walking a bunch of people. Mostly, I was missing. Stuff wasn't very crisp. I'd rather get that out of the way now and hopefully get through it. I feel fine. It was tough. But I'll just put it behind me and go on to the next one. But it was a grind from the get-go."
Alexander Guerrero, a utility player this spring, is batting .400. He said early in camp that he plans to be in the major leagues — he has a clause in his contract that allows him to veto a minor-league assignment. The Cuban signed a four-year contract for $28 million in October 2013.
Despite Guerrero's clause, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly isn't ready to say he'll be on the opening day roster.
"He's another one who we are going to keep looking at," Mattingly said. "We just want to see what he does."
Guerrero, a shortstop in Cuba, was back at his original position Thursday. This spring, he has been at a third base and in left field.
"He looks a lot better," Mattingly said. "He's more comfortable. Being here for a year has really helped."
Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson, who missed successive spring starts with a sore knee, is back at work. He threw 40 pitches this week in an intrasquad game.
Dodger reliever Brandon League played catch Thursday in the batting cages on a morning when most of drills were rained out. He underwent an anti-inflammatory injection on Tuesday for discomfort in his right shoulder.
Looking ahead, Angels left-hander Hector Santiago gets his third start Friday against the Indians in Goodyear, despite getting hit on the left forearm by a line drive Sunday against the White Sox. He had some swelling, but not enough to skip a scheduled start. Santiago is in the chase for a spot as the fifth starter. In 7 2-3 innings this spring, he has given up five runs on 11 hits.
And the Dodgers will send a split squad to San Antonio for games Friday and Saturday against the Rangers. Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson are making the trip. Left-hander Erik Bedard starts Friday in his third appearance. Zack Greinke gets his third start Saturday. Clayton Kershaw, who struggled in his last outing Sunday, gets his fourth start in a split-squad game Friday in Mesa against the A's. David Huff, whose wife is expecting a baby, is scheduled for his fourth appearance Saturday in a start against the Rockies in Scottsdale.
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