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Pujols Hits 2-Run HR In Ninth Inning In Angels' 8-6 Victory Over A's

ANAHEIM (AP) — Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels an 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.

Mike Trout had three hits and reached on a throwing error to start the ninth, diving headlong into first base to avoid a tag. Pujols also finished with three hits to go with three RBIs.

Jefry Marte and Cliff Pennington homered in the fourth for the Angels, who have won 10 of 12 at home.

Stephen Vogt tied it 6-all with an RBI single in the top of the ninth, but Mike Morin (2-1) relieved Cam Bedrosian and got pinch-hitter Danny Valencia to bounce into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

Trout led off the bottom half and hit a grounder to third baseman Ryon Healy, who threw high and wide of first. Pujols then drove a 3-1 pitch from Ryan Dull (5-3) far over the left-field fence for his 581st home run.

The slugger is two behind former St. Louis Cardinals teammate Mark McGwire for 10th on the career list. Pujols has 1,192 extra-base hits, passing Lou Gehrig for sole possession of ninth place.

One night after earning his first save, Bedrosian, filling in for injured closer Huston Street, blew an opportunity when he allowed the tying run in the ninth. Bedrosian put the first five batters of the inning on base before being removed in favor of Morin.

After the A's scored once in the eighth on Jed Lowrie's bases-loaded walk to cut the Los Angeles lead to 6-5, Coco Crisp singled leading off the ninth. Max Muncy walked and Vogt tied the game with a single to left-center. Muncy was tagged out in a rundown between second and third, but Bedrosian walked Khris Davis and Yonder Alonso to load the bases.

Morin got Valencia to ground into a 1-2-3 double play.

Jered Weaver limited Oakland to four runs (three earned) and nine hits. Weaver gave up runs in the second, third and fourth, but the Angels responded by tying it in the bottom of each inning before taking a 6-4 lead in the fifth.

Trout led off with a broken-bat single that bounced off Lowrie's glove at second base. He scored on Pujols' double to right field.

Kendall Graveman then exited in favor of Andrew Triggs. Pujols went to third on a groundout by Andrelton Simmons and scored on one by Ji-Man Choi.

Graveman allowed six earned runs, tying his season high and marking the first time in six starts that he's given up more than three.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: Lowrie is playing with a bunion on his left foot. The team has ordered him orthotics in hopes of easing the pain but acknowledged that surgery might be an option. Lowrie is trying to avoid the disabled list.

Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano has opted for Tommy John surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament. General manager Billy Eppler announced the decision but said Tropeano doesn't yet have a date or a doctor chosen. . RHP Garrett Richards saw significant healing of his torn UCL from stem cell therapy at an imaging appointment. He plans to continue the treatment and will have more images taken in 10-14 days.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Jesse Hahn will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Thursday for his fourth start with Oakland this season. Hahn is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two appearances against the Angels and 2-4 with a 5.53 ERA in eight major league games this year.

Angels: RHP Ricky Nolasco will make his Angels debut in the series finale. Nolasco was acquired from Minnesota on Monday along with RHP Alex Meyer in exchange for LHP Hector Santiago. Nolasco, who grew up 50 miles northeast of Angel Stadium in Rialto, is 4-8 with a 5.13 ERA.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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