Pujols, Trout homer as Angels score 10 or more in third straight
DENVER
The Los Angeles Angels' once-struggling offense is heating up.
All-Stars Albert Pujols and Mike Trout hit two of Los Angeles' four home runs and the streaking Angels routed the Colorado Rockies 10-2 on Tuesday night.
Matt Joyce and Chris Iannetta also went deep as the Angels jumped on Colorado starter Chad Bettis for 10 runs in just 2 1/3 innings to win their fourth straight.
Los Angeles has scored at least 10 runs in the last three games and 43 runs during the winning streak after putting up just 27 runs in the previous 12 games.
''It's been unbelievable,'' Trout said. ''The first month or two of the season we were scratching wins off and now the offense is coming together and we're pitching well. It's fun to be a part of.''
Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney (2-0) had another impressive outing in just his third career start. He allowed two runs and eight hits and struck out five in 7 1/3 innings. He surrendered a solo home run to Drew Stubbs in the third and an RBI single to Troy Tulowitzki in the sixth that extended his hitting streak to 19 games.
''A 10-run lead by the third inning is definitely is a little cushion,'' Heaney said. ''That makes it a lot easier.''
Heaney's outing was more than enough for the offense. Pujols hit a three-run shot in the first inning for his AL-leading 26th homer of the season. Joyce gave Los Angeles a 5-0 lead with his fourth of the year in the second, and Trout hit his 22nd later in the inning to make it 8-0.
Iannetta ended Bettis' night with a two-run homer in the third, his third of the season.
''When a team starts swinging the bat well it carries over to other people,'' Joyce said. ''You can tell everybody in our lineup has confidence and seems to be relaxed.''
It was the roughest outing of the season for Bettis (4-4), who had become a bright spot in the Rockies rotation. He took a no-hitter into the eighth at Philadelphia on May 29 and had allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his first 10 starts before faltering Tuesday.
''It sucks to waste a day like this because I felt really good,'' Bettis said. ''I missed four pitches up and it did damage. It's time to hit the delete button here and move forward.''
Colorado tried to rally in the eighth. Charlie Blackmon reached on a one-out single, his third of the night, and went to third on DJ LeMahieu's single.
Fernando Salas relieved Heaney, struck out Tulowitzki and got Nolan Arenado to fly out to right to end the inning.
''It makes it tougher when you're playing from behind in all aspects of the game,'' Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. ''Starting pitching tends to set the tone.''
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (left hip inflammation) threw on flat ground Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. He will be evaluated before the All-Star break to determine if he needs a rehab start.
Rockies: Transferred 1B Justin Morneau to the 60-day DL. Weiss said Morneau hasn't had any setbacks and the move was made to create a spot on the 40-man roster. Morneau has been out since mid-May with concussion symptoms.
ON GUARD
Trout is used to pitchers coming inside on him, but the reigning AL MVP had enough when Bettis hit him in the left elbow in the top of the first. Trout said it was the third time in the last two weeks he has been hit in the same spot so he put on an elbow guard for his next at-bat.
''I don't like wearing guards but when you get hit three times in the same spot it's time,'' he said.
The equipment didn't seem to bother him. He homered his next time up to the plate.
HOMER HAPPY
Pujols' first-inning blast was the 54th interleague homer of his career, the most in baseball. He also set the franchise mark for most home runs in the first half. Garrett Anderson set the record in 2000.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.91) has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of his last seven starts. He is facing the Rockies for the first time.
Rockies: LHP Chris Rusin (3-3, 4.27) is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two Coors Field starts this season. He has not allowed a home run at home this season.
