ANAHEIM, Calif. _ Albert Pujols can win a fair share of games with his bat. On Sunday, he won one for the Los Angeles Angels with his legs.
Pujols scored from second base on a soft single Sunday, the first run in the Angels' 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees. The unlikely quartet of Jhoulys Chacin, Deolis Guerra, J.C. Ramirez and Fernando Salas combined on a six-hit shutout for the Angels. After allowing 11 earned runs in his last two starts, Chacin delivered 5 2/3 scoreless innings to pick up his fourth win.
On Saturday, Pujols hit the 583rd home run of his career, tying Mark McGwire for 10th place on the all-time list. On Sunday, in the fifth inning, he hit what appeared to be No. 584, until Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury leaped above the fence to rob Pujols of a home run.
In between, Pujols sprinted.
With two out in the first inning, Pujols singled, and C.J. Cron followed with a walk. Andrelton Simmons then singled into shallow left field, with left fielder Brett Gardner charging the ball.
Even granted that Pujols had a running start from second base _ there were two out _ the 36-year-old appeared unlikely to try to score. But he did, smartly challenging what revealed itself to be Gardner's below-average throwing arm.
Pujols executed a nice slide around the tag. The Angels had their run _ and they had their win.
In the eighth inning, Pujols took another extra base, this time on Ellsbury, by going from first base to third on a single to center field. He scored an insurance run on a single by Simmons.
Pujols has been troubled by foot injuries during significant stretches of his five years with the Angels, but he is known as an aggressive baserunner. He has 107 career stolen bases, including two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals in which he stole 16 bases and another in which he stole 14.
