Power surge lifts Angels over Orioles
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Albert Pujols and Peter Bourjos each hit two- run blasts, part of a four-homer attack which propelled Los Angeles past Baltimore, 7-3, in the opener of a two-game series from Camden Yards.
Mark Trumbo and John Hester added solo shots for the Angels, who have won seven of their last nine. Howie Kendrick added three hits and seven different players crossed the plate for the victors.
"Going into the season we knew we had a good team. This is exactly the type of thing we expected to happen," Trumbo said of his club's success after early struggles. "We've got the right dynamics to keep on doing it until the end of the year."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}C.J. Wilson (9-4) scattered six hits and one run over seven solid innings for his fifth straight positive decision.
Wilson Betemit slugged a two-run home run and Steve Pearce added another longball for the Orioles, who have lost five of their last seven.
Brian Matusz (5-9) was pulled without retiring a batter in the sixth, charged with 13 hits and five runs over five-plus frames.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The visitors picked up the game's first run in the third inning as Mike Trout stroked a leadoff double and scored when Torii Hunter followed with a base hit.
Pujols then barely reached the seats in right center in the fifth, one batter after Hunter singled, to give the Halos a 3-0 edge.
Pearce answered with a leadoff shot in the home half, but Matusz exited in the sixth after a Maicer Izturis single and two-run homer from Bourjos.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I left a lot of balls right out over the plate tonight," Matsuz admitted. "They're a great team one through nine, and I felt I was in command throughout, but the bottom line is I left too much over the plate."
Trumbo's leadoff homer in the seventh landed well over the wall just to the left of center, and Hester reached the seats in left with one down in the eighth for a 7-1 game.
Matt Wieters walked with one out in the bottom of the eighth and came in on a Betemit two-run shot two batters later, but the O's got no closer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jason Isringhausen retired the next two batters to close out the inning, then Jordan Walden worked around a Robert Andino walk to turn in a scoreless ninth.
Game Notes
The Angels have taken three of four from the Orioles this season and nine of 13 since the start of last year...Wilson hasn't lost since May 17, and Los Angeles has won in each of his last seven outings...For Matusz, the 13 hits allowed were a season high, eclipsing the 10 surrendered against Texas on May 7.