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Pujols’ gets walk-off winner against Padres; Angels win 4-3

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun, left, and Albert Pujols, center, share a leaping double high-five to celebrate Pujols' game-winning hit while Mike Trout (27) looks on.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun, left, and Albert Pujols, center, share a leaping double high-five to celebrate Pujols’ game-winning hit while Mike Trout (27) looks on.

(Victor Decolongon / Getty Images)
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KEY MOMENT: With two on and two out in the ninth inning, the Padres walked Mike Trout intentionally, loading the bases for Albert Pujols. Although Pujols was batting .224 overall and .152 with runners in scoring position, Pujols slapped the second pitch from closer Craig Kimbrel into left field to give the Angels a 4-3 victory. The walk-off hit was the 18th of Pujols’ career, second among active players to David Ortiz, who has 19.

AT THE PLATE: Matt Joyce, still trying to establish himself as the Angels’ left fielder, doubled and scored their first run and singled home their second run. Joyce has five hits in the last 12 at-bats, lifting his batting average from .150 to .176. The bottom four batters in the Angels lineup — Joyce, Carlos Perez, Marc Krauss and Johnny Giavotella — each had two hits.

ON THE MOUND: Jered Weaver was closing in on his fourth consecutive victory, with the Angels up, 3-0, and two out in the seventh inning. With Weaver at 104 pitches and the Padres due to send up the left-handed Alexi Amarista (.194), Manager Mike Scioscia opted for left-hander Jose Alvarez. The Padres countered with Jedd Gyorko (.202), who walked. Alvarez then gave up a one-run double to Yangervis Solarte and a two-run single to Will Venable, and the score was tied, 3-3. In his last four starts, Weaver is 3-0 with a 1.50 earned-run average.

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ROSTER NEWS: The Angels optioned first baseman-designated hitter C.J. Cron (.225 on-base percentage) to triple-A Salt Lake. They will announce a corresponding move Tuesday. … Outfielder Collin Cowgill (sprained right wrist) had an anti-inflammatory injection. He appeared as a pinch-runner Monday and is day to day as far as batting.

EXTRA BASES: The Angels’ Memorial Day uniforms featured bright red tops with camouflage letters and numbers. “Once in a blue moon,” Scioscia said of the holiday wardrobe, “to have something that symbolizes something that should be really important.” … Matt Shoemaker, who starts Tuesday for the Angels, has given up 13 home runs, most in the American League and one shy of his 2014 total. Shoemaker’s 6.29 ERA is third-highest among AL starters, ahead of only Kansas City’s Jeremy Guthrie (6.70) and Seattle’s Taijuan Walker (7.33). … The Padres’ official game notes called Monday’s game the series opener “in Orange County against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.”

UP NEXT: Shoemaker (3-4, 6.29) faces the Padres’ Odrisamer Despaigne (2-3, 6.11) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at Angel Stadium. TV: FS West; Radio: 830, 1330.

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