Bullpen Fails Hughes, Twins In 8-5 Loss To Angels

MINNEAPOLIS -- Albert Pujols homered and hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the ninth inning for his 2,500th hit, leading the Los Angeles Angels over Minnesota 8-5 Saturday night for their third straight win over the Twins.

Pujols hit a solo homer in the third off Phil Hughes for a 3-2 lead, scoring his 1,500th run on his 25th home run this season.

With the score 5-all in the ninth and two on, Pujols doubled to deep left off Jared Burton (2-5) and scored on Howie Kendrick's single against Anthony Swarzak.

Joe Smith (7-2) pitched a one-hit eighth and Huston Street finished for his 37th save in 40 chances.

After one-out singles by Aaron Hicks and Chris Parmalee, Brian Dozier grounded into a game-ending 3-6-1 double play. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire challenged the call by first base umpire John Tumpane, and after a delay of about 1 minute, 20 seconds, the call was upheld.

Eduardo Escobar and Chris Parmelee homered for Minnesota, which led 5-3 after seven innings. The Angeles tied the score in the eighth against Casey Fien when Pujols singled, Kendrick tripled and Erick Aybar hit a sacrifice fly.

Hughes allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, walked none and struck out eight. With 165 strikeouts, he tied his career best with the New York Yankees in 2012.

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