Advertisement

Angels power past Mets, 14-2

Angels catcher Hank Conger, right, is congratulated by teammate Howie Kendrick after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of the Angels' 14-2 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
(Kelvin Kuo / Associated Press)
Share

Angels 14, Mets 2

TURNING POINT: Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Raul Ibanez hit consecutive home runs in the first inning against Bartolo Colon, the first time the Angels have done that since July 27, 2009. Trout’s went into the top of the trees beyond the center-field wall, Pujols’ into the Angels’ bullpen in left field and Ibanez’s into the right-field stands. It was Pujols’ 495th home run. The Mets kept the next batter in the ballpark but just barely, with Kole Calhoun short-hopping the right-field wall with a double, giving the Angels four consecutive extra-base hits for the first time since May 11, 1977.

AT THE PLATE: The 14 runs were a season high for the Angels, who had every starter collect a hit and a run, the first time that has happened at home since July 19, 2002. J.B. Shuck and Trout, the 1-2 hitters in the order, each had three hits and Calhoun, Howie Kendrick, Ian Stewart and Hank Conger had two hits each. Eleven of the Angels’ 17 hits went for extra bases, including a season-high five home runs.

Advertisement

ON THE MOUND: The Angels needed some length from left-hander C.J. Wilson and he responded, pitching seven innings in which he gave up two runs and six hits. He was followed by Kevin Jepsen and Yoslan Herrera, who, with a scoreless ninth inning, became the first Cuban to pitch for the Angels since Luis Tiant in 1982.

MOVING DAY: With their bullpen spent after two extra-inning games, the Angels called up Herrera and left-hander Jose Alvarez from triple-A Salt Lake and optioned right-handers Dane De La Rosa and Matt Shoemaker to the minors. Manager Mike Scioscia expressed concern over De La Rosa, who came off the disabled list Friday and retired only one of the three batters he faced Saturday, giving up two ninth-inning runs. De La Rosa’s velocity was down noticeably from last year, when he threw in the mid-90s en route to an Angels rookie-record 75 appearances and was 6-1 with a 2.86 earned-run average. “Right now it’s obvious that Dane is out of sync. And he needs to find it,” Scioscia said.

EXTRA BASES: After being swept by Seattle in their season-opening series, the Angels have won six of their last nine games to reach .500 for the second time this year. The Mets’ David Wright and Daniel Murphy were ejected in the top of the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout. It was the first ejection of Murphy’s career.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Hector Santiago (0-2, 7.71) makes his third bid for his first win as an Angel on Monday when he faces the Oakland Athletics and right-hander Jesse Chavez (0-0), 1.38) at 7 p.m. at Angel Stadium. Santiago beat Oakland in his only start against the A’s and is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three appearances lifetime against Oakland. On the air: Radio: 830, 1330 (Spanish); TV: FS West, ESPN.

kevin.baxter@latimes.com

Advertisement