Albert Pujols delivers walk-off win after Angels give Padres tough choice
Take a look around the league with Big League Stew’s daily wrap up. We’ll hit on all of the biggest moments from the day that you may have missed, while providing highlights, photos and interesting stats.
The Los Angeles Angels gave the San Diego Padres a choice not many teams would like: Mike Trout or Albert Pujols? Spoiler alert: The Padres didn’t choose correctly.
With the score tied at three Monday night and two out in the ninth inning, the Padres could have pitched to Mike Trout with runners at first and third base. But they chose to walk him to load the bases and take their chances with Albert Pujols. Can’t blame the decision. No need to risk it with the best player in the game.
But Pujols made them pay just the same, slapping a broken-bat, walk-off single into left field off Padres’ closer Craig Kimbrel. The Angels were the victors, 4-3. Pujols notched his 17th career walk-off hit and, according to ESPN Stats & Info, that’s the second most among active players. David Ortiz is No. 1.
Pujols appeared to get chirpy with the Padres dugout right after his single, as evidenced here:
Albert said after the game that he would have walked Trout too, so that must not be what made him angry.
We’ll see if there’s any fallout Tuesday for Pujols yelling at the Padres dugout.
DREW HUTCHISON THROWS A ‘MADDUX’ FOR BLUE JAYS
The up-and-down season of Toronto Blue Jays opening day starter Drew Hutchison was way up Monday, as the 24-year-old pulled off a “Maddux” in Toronto’s 6-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.
What’s a Maddux, you ask? It’s an Internet-created designation, in which a pitcher throws a shutout on fewer than 100 pitches. It’s named for Greg Maddux, because he did it 13 times.
Hutchison threw 96 pitches, allowing just four hits and striking out eight. It wasn’t the first Maddux of 2015. Shelby Miller of the Atlanta Braves has already thrown two of them.
JESSE HAHN SHUTS OUT TIGERS
Oakland A’s starter Jesse Hahn threw too many pitches (112) for a Maddux, but he’s plenty happy with a complete-game shutout and a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Hahn, acquired in a winter trade from the San Diego Padres, turned in his best start with Oakland, allowing four hits and striking out five. A four-run sixth inning was all the offense Hahn would need.
DODGERS BEAT BRAVES WITH THREE HOMERS IN THE EIGHTH
Well, we knew the Los Angeles Dodgers could launch homers and now the Atlanta Braves do too. The Dodgers, second in all of baseball in homers, broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning by knocking three homers and putting four runs across the plate. Andre Ethier was first, followed by pinch-hitter Alex Guerrero, who hit a two-run dinger, then Jimmy Rollins hit the third of the inning.
The Braves added a run in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a 6-3 loss.
Want to see more from Monday’s slate of games? Check out our scoreboard.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
