Erick Aybar’s acrobatics help Angels rally for 3-2 win over Blue Jays

Angels 3, Toronto 2

KEY MOMENT: Erick Aybar was on second base and Albert Pujols was on first with one out in the eighth inning and the score tied, 2-2. Kole Calhoun hit a slow roller to third baseman Josh Donaldson, who tried to make a lunging tag of Aybar at the bag. But Aybar avoided the tag with an acrobatic, twisting head-first slide while remaining in the baseline. With the bases loaded, David Freese hit a sacrifice fly to center field for a 3-2 Angels lead.

AT THE PLATE: Chris Iannetta stayed hot with two singles, including one to left field to drive in Calhoun for a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning. The catcher is eight for 15 in his last four games, raising his average from .101 to .173. Calhoun, the new cleanup batter, hit an opposite-field home run in the fourth inning for a 1-1 tie. Of his 29 career home runs, this was the first he hit to left field. Aybar had two hits and is 15 for 31 in eight games, raising his average from .200 to .279.

ON THE MOUND: You could have blinked and missed the bottom of the eighth inning. Joe Smith retired the side in order on six pitches, inducing three grounders. Huston Street retired the side in order with a strikeout in the ninth for his 13th save.

LATE START: Matt Joyce fessed up as to the real reason he was scratched from Monday’s lineup: The left fielder thought it was a night game and did not arrive at the stadium until the middle of batting practice before a 1 p.m. EDT start. “It’s one of those things that should never happen,” said Joyce, who was fined but was back in Tuesday’s lineup. “It was the worst feeling in the world. I felt terrible about it. It definitely won’t happen again.”

SLOW TRACK: Manager Mike Scioscia described the new Rogers Centre turf as “spongy and slow,” but not just for an artificial surface. “It might be the slowest overall surface we’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “The balls definitely don’t pick up pace like they normally do on artificial turf, and outfielders really have to charge balls.”

EXTRA BASES: A Major League Baseball spokesman said that the lewd gesture Donaldson made toward the Angels dugout during Monday’s game is “under review,” but as of Tuesday, no discipline had been handed down.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Jered Weaver (2-4, 4.44 ERA) will oppose Toronto right-hander Drew Hutchison (3-0, 6.17) on Wednesday at 4 p.m. PDT at Rogers Centre. TV: FS West; Radio: 830.