Pujols ties Angels' record with 13 home runs in June
And on the last day of a spectacular month, Albert Pujols closed June with another home run.
Pujols hit 13 home runs in June, tying an Angels' franchise record with the most home runs in any month. He tied Mo Vaughn (May, 2000) and Tim Salmon (June, 1996) for the record. Pujols already had left by the time the clubhouse was open to reporters. He prefers not to talk about his home runs; he'd rather speak on team-oriented things.
But it's undeniable to not talk about Pujols -- who leads the Angels with 24 home runs -- and what he's done this season.
"What's he's done for this team, and what he's done for us this month, he's put us on his back so to speak and carried us, both he and (Mike) Trout but especially Albert with this streak that he's done, it's kept us alive," Angels closer Huston Street said.
Pujols is batting .265 with 24 home runs and 49 RBI. He has 11 doubles and has struck out 31 times and walked 25.
"I think we're seeing Albert at his best," Mike Scioscia said. "We're seeing what he did in St. Louis year after year. He's found that groove, especially with no protection behind him that he would normally have, where you would have somebody behind him that's driving the ball behind Albert. He's managed to be incredibly productive and hit in the clutch, do everything you're looking for your guy in the middle of the order to do. We need him to keep going, and we need the rest of the lineup to carry their weight if we're going to get to our goal."
Pujols talked in spring training about his offseason workout and diet regimen hass helped him stay in the lineup.
"Albert takes his job very serious and he knows exactly what he's trying to accomplish," Street said. "For me as a player and I said this to my family when they were all in town.. there are certain guys you watch their routine and you develop a profound respect and you understand why they're sticks to his routine day in and day out."
Pujols has weathered injuries this year, but none that caused him to miss a day here or there. He's been in the lineup as the designated hitter as well.
"... He plays hurt," Street said. "He has not been all the way healthy the entire stretch this month. He would never talk about that. Just in the short time I've been here, I've seen him play through a hamstring or a groin. After all this time, he's still striving for greatness."
