The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim try to earn a split against the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon as the squads close out a four- game series at Angel Stadium.
After being blanked in the first two games of the series the Angels bounced back on Saturday night by putting up a 6-2 victory.
Bobby Wilson stroked an RBI single in the second inning to snap LA's 23 2/3 inning scoreless run, while Mike Trout registered his first home run of the campaign as he knocked in two runs and scored twice for the hosts. Kendrys Morales accounted for three hits and both Alberto Callaspo and Mark Trumbo a pair, the latter connecting on his fourth home runs of the season in the triumph.
The Angels managed to pick up their fourth win in the last six outings while Albert Pujols watched from the bench, having been given the night off.
Pujols, who signed a 10-year $240 million contract during the offseason, is suffering through a miserable stretch of 137 straight at-bats without a home run. The 12-year vet has logged a mere two hits in his last 27 at-bats and has just one RBI in his last 18 games.
"Ninety-five percent of what he has going on, it's mental," Torii Hunter said of the disappointing start to the season for Pujols. "It has nothing to do with his physical abilities. It's mental. So sometimes you need a mental break."
C.J. Wilson made it through eight innings on the hill for the Angels, striking out nine while allowing just two runs on six hits and three walks.
Toronto starter Kyle Drabek was saddled with the loss as he permitted five runs on eight hits and five walks, striking out just two in five innings of action.
Adam Lind delivered a solo home run for the visitors and Jose Bautista also knocked in a run, even as he watched his batting average drop to .180.
Heading to the mound for the visitors today will be 21-year old Drew Hutchison. The rookie right-hander is appearing in just his fourth major league contest, the first of those resulting in his only decision, a win over Kansas City on April 21.
More recently the Florida native stepped up against Texas on Tuesday and was knocked around for six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and a pair of walks over six innings of action at home. Hutchison struck out a career-best five batters and Toronto ended up winning the game, 8-7, but he failed to earn the win.
Countering for the Angels will be Jerome Williams who is attempting to follow up his strongest outing of the season with another positive performance in front of the hometown fans.
Williams, who has yet to earn a decision in his career against the Jays, went the distance against Minnesota on Tuesday, permitting just three hits and a walk, while fanning six in a complete game 4-0 triumph. The victory was the second in as many decisions for Williams who has a career mark of 29-30 in 90 total appearances dating back to 2003 when he broke in with the San Francisco Giants.
Pujols is not the only superstar to find the going rough through the first five weeks of the season as Bautista has dropped far below his career batting average of .252 and his slugging (.350) isn't anywhere near what it was a season ago (.608).
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.