ANDREW KRAMMER
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Vying to take the American League lead with his 16th win of the season, Phil Hughes left with a two-run lead after seven innings. The Minnesota Twins’ bullpen couldn’t hold it.
Albert Pujols hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat Minnesota 8-5 on Saturday night.
The Twins have lost the first three games of the weekend series — by a combined five runs — and seven straight against the Angels dating back to July 24, 2013.
“Again, exciting game there in the end,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Our starter was fantastic. Early in the game he actually looked like he didn’t have his best stuff, but worked his way through it. After the sixth inning, (Hughes) told us, ‘I’m losing it, get somebody ready.’ And his seventh inning was his best inning.”
Hughes was poised to take the league lead in wins, leaving with a 5-3 advantage. However, Casey Fien gave it up in seven pitches in the eighth. Pujols singled to left, Howie Kendrick had an RBI triple and Erick Aybar tied it with a sacrifice fly.
Pujols also homered and his double in the ninth off Jared Burton (2-5) was his 2,500th career hit.
Eduardo Escobar and Chris Parmelee homered for Minnesota.
“You look for those three facets of the game every time out: good start, bullpen to step up and score a few runs,” Hughes said. “Unfortunately for us the last few games here, one or two of those things hasn’t been there.”
Joe Smith (7-2) pitched a one-hit eighth and Huston Street finished for his 37th save in 40 chances.
After one-out singles by Aaron Hicks and Chris Parmalee, Brian Dozier grounded into a game-ending 3-6-1 double play. Gardenhire challenged the call by first base umpire John Tumpane, and after a delay of about 1 minute, 20 seconds, the call was upheld.
Hughes allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, walked none and struck out eight. With 165 strikeouts, he tied his career best with the New York Yankees in 2012.
“What a performance against a great hitting team over there,” Gardenhire said of Hughes. “(He) pounded that strike zone and I don’t think he walked anybody; that’s hard to do against a team like that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: LF Josh Hamilton missed his second straight game with a sore shoulder. Hamilton had been expected to return to the lineup, but manager Mike Scioscia said before the game that he was day to day. Scioscia said Hamilton was “feeling better” and LHP Joe Thatcher (ankle) was slated to pitch Saturday for Double-A Arkansas.
Twins: CF Danny Santana left the game with a lower-back injury sustained while trying to throw out David Freese at home in the second. The team said he’s day to day. All-Star closer Glen Perkins also is day to day with neck soreness that started bothering him Thursday night. An MRI Saturday revealed no structural damage or pinched nerves . OF Jordan Schafer was out of the lineup a night after bruising ribs during a crash into the outfield wall. Assitant GM Rob Antony said Schafer was available to pinch hit, if needed.
UP NEXT
Los Angeles starts LHP C.J. Wilson (10-9), who is 4-0 against the Twins since 2011. LHP Logan Darnell (0-1) likely will start for Minnesota.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
