Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Albert Pujols' 511th career home run highlighted an eight-run seventh inning, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim rallied for an 11-5 win over the slumping Houston Astros on Saturday.
Pujols finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored and moved into a tie with Mel Ott for 23rd place on major league baseball's all-time home run list. David Freese and C.J. Cron also homered during the seventh, while Kole Calhoun and Erick Aybar each posted three hits and scored a pair of runs.
Hector Santiago remained winless on the season after allowing five runs in five innings for the Angels. Santiago's last win came 20 starts ago on Aug. 18 of last season. Michael Roth (1-0) tossed two perfect innings of relief in his season debut to pick up the win.
Chris Carter provided most of the offense for Houston with his second grand slam of the season. The Astros have dropped six straight.
Pujols gave the Halos an early lead, ripping a single to right to plate Calhoun with one away in the bottom of the first.
The margin held until the top of the third, when Houston put up a five-spot against Santiago. L.J. Hoes led off with a single to right and Jason Castro tied the score two batters later, driving an RBI double off the wall in right center. George Springer was then hit by a pitch and Matt Dominguez singled to load the bases for Carter, who made it 5-1 with one swing of the bat.
Los Angeles began chipping away, cutting the deficit to 5-2 on Howie Kendrick's opposite field poke to right that scored Aybar in the fourth.
Houston starter Scott Feldman departed after six innings, having allowed both runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
"Feldman did a tremendous job for six innings," said Houston manager Bo Porter. "Carter came through with a grand slam. But we were not able to escape their big bats in the seventh. We couldn't avoid their long ball."
Anthony Bass (1-1) was handed the ball for the seventh. Freese welcomed the 26-year-old by unloading his fourth homer of the season with one away in the frame, setting the tone for the rest of the inning. Calhoun then singled and after Mike Trout flied out to center, Pujols put the Angels in front with his homer to left-center.
"I was able to put a good swing on it in a key moment in the game," Pujols said. "But I was just one of nine players that came through tonight. Any way we can get a win is great.
Tony Sipp replaced Bass on the mound and didn't fare any better, departing after a pair of walks that sandwiched Aybar's RBI double.
Josh Zeid came on and threw served up Cron's three-run blast. Zeid ultimately got out of the inning by striking out Trout, but not before LA loaded the bases, threatening to do even more damage.
Pujols crossed the plate on Kendrick's single in the bottom of the eighth for the final run.
Game Notes
The Angels had a three-home run inning against the Mets on April 13. They are the only team in the majors with multiple three-home run innings this season ... The Angels have won 12 of 15 overall and 20 of 23 at home ... Houston rookie outfielder Domingo Santana went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. The young Dominican has started his career with 16 hitless at-bats, striking out 14 times ... Castro had three of Houston's eight hits.
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