Angels outslug Toronto Blue Jays, 8-7

KEY MOMENT: Albert Pujols drove a ball inches over the center-field wall for a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The ball tipped off the glove of center fielder Colby Rasmus. The home run was the 512th of Pujols’ career, tying him for 21st on the all-time list with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews.

AT THE PLATE: Pujols was two for four with the two decisive runs batted in. Every starter minus Hank Conger recorded a hit in the back-and-forth affair. Trailing by two runs in the fourth inning, Kole Calhoun hit a score-tying two-run home run.

ON THE MOUND: C.J. Wilson battled command issues and a shaky infield defense in 32/3 innings. His last four starts are cause for some concern: Over that span, he has given up 19 earned runs and 31 hits in 162/3 innings. He gave up six runs, three earned, walked three and threw 79 pitches against the Blue Jays. Even in innings when the Blue Jays failed to score, Wilson toiled. He gave up three hits and threw 24 pitches in the first inning but escaped unscathed thanks to a baserunning mistake.

ON THE BASES: For the second game in a row, Mike Trout committed a costly baserunning mistake. In the third inning, he hesitated from second base on a flared single by Pujols. That was enough to allow Melky Cabrera’s throw to beat Trout at the plate.

IN THE FIELD: In the fourth inning, when the Blue Jays scored five runs, errors by Howie Kendrick and C.J. Cron ignited and extended the rally. In fact, one of the Angels’ better defensive plays was almost an error. In the first inning, an overthrow on a fielder’s choice prompted Jose Reyes to try to score, but he was thrown out at the plate. Trout’s defense proved crucial. His diving catch in the sixth inning probably saved at least two runs.

STUFFING THE BALLOTS: As of Wednesday morning, Angels right-hander Garrett Richards was in second place in the All-Star game “final five” fan voting. He trails Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. Richards is polling well locally, with 96.8% of votes in Orange County. He has also received 71.2% of votes in New Jersey’s Cumberland County. Chalk that one up to the Trout bump. The deadline for voting is Thursday at 1 p.m. PDT.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Hector Santiago (0-7, 4.50 ERA) will face Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis (6-5, 5.51) in at Globe Life Park on Thursday at 5 p.m. PDT.