Albert Pujols welcomed his new striking coach to town having a go-ahead three-run homer and Vernon Wells added a 2-run shot to guide the La Angels to some 7-2 victory within the Chicago Whitened Sox on Wednesday evening.
Jim Eppard was using the Angels the very first time as striking coach after changing Mickey Hatcher, who had been unceremoniously left Tuesday evening by new gm Jerry DiPoto 1 1/2 several weeks into Hatcher's thirteenth season at work. The team's offensive struggles brought towards the firing, including Pujols' slow start after signing a ten-year, $240 million contract like a free agent.
It had been a simple transition for Eppard, who's in the tenth season within the organization and nurtured current Angels gamers Howie Kendrick, Kendrys Morales, Mark Trumbo, Erick Aybar, Peter Bourjos and Bobby Wilson because the striking coach at Triple-A Salt Lake.
Jerome Williams (4-1) won his 4th straight decision, permitting two runs and 10 hits over eight innings with five strikeouts with no walks. Last Friday at Texas, the best-hander relieved C.J. Wilson the evening before his scheduled start due to a 56-minute rain delay -- then threw in the towel six runs and 11 hits in 6 2-3 innings without obtaining a decision since the Angels were already trailing within the first inning as he arrived.
Gavin Floyd (3-4) surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in six innings, including both home runs. The best-hander had permitted only one homer in 40 2-3 innings over his previous six begins after quitting three in the season debut at Texas.
Trailing 2-1, the Angels snapped up a 4-2 lead with one swing by Pujols, who drove an -1 pitch within the center area fence after Mike Trout and Albert Callaspo opened up the inning with singles.
It had been the 447th career homer and 2nd this year for Pujols, the 3-time NL MVP who ended a long regular-season drought of his career after 33 games and 139 at-bats within the finale from the Angels' previous homestand. The Halos elevated the margin to 7-2 within the sixth with Kendrick's sacrifice fly and Wells' sixth homer.
No.8 players for that Angels and Whitened Sox each drove within their team's first run. Aybar opened up the scoring within the second by having an RBI double following a two-out walk to Wells, and Dayan Viciedo tied it within the third for that Whitened Sox having a homer in to the rock pile in left-center. Alejandro P Aza singled two batters after Viciedo's fifth homer and obtained on Gordon Beckham's double.
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