Trout’s 3-run double powers surging Angels past Jays 6-3

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout hit a three-run double and Albert Pujols added his 1,998th career RBI in the Los Angeles Angels‘ fifth victory in six games, 6-3 over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

Trout’s bases-clearing drive in the fourth chased Marcus Stroman (1-4) and punctuated the latest strong performance by the streaky Angels, who had lost nine of 10 before their current surge.

Randal Grichuk and Rowdy Tellez homered for the Blue Jays, who had won nine of 12 before losing the first two in this three-game series.

After Tommy La Stella drew a bases-loaded walk, Trout put his double past Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at third base. The two-time AL MVP has been steadily productive, but the double was just Trout’s fifth extra-base hit since April 7.

With a first-inning single, Trout also set a franchise record by reaching base in his 28th consecutive game to start the season, topping Darin Erstad’s 27 straight in 2000.

Stroman’s ERA rose from 1.43 to 2.20 after he gave up six hits and two walks.

Guerrero went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the second road game of his big league career at his father’s longtime home ballpark. The 20-year-old prodigy barely missed his first career homer when his high fly to left only reached the warning track in the eighth.

Although Guerrero made a couple of sharp plays in the field, the third baseman also was given his first big league error when he failed to snag Pujols’ chopper in the fifth inning.

The 39-year-old Pujols then scored from first on Kole Calhoun’s double and Billy McKinney’s error in right, even running through a stop sign from third base coach Mike Gallego.

Pujols drove in the Angels’ first run with a long flyout in the first inning. The 19-year veteran is on the verge of becoming the third player with 2,000 RBIs since they became an official statistic, joining Hank Aaron and Alex Rodriguez.

After Luke Bard threw a perfect first inning as the Angels’ opener, Felix Pena (1-1) retired his first nine batters. The right-hander still hasn’t pitched longer than five innings this season, but he earned his first win in eight appearances since Sept. 12.

Ty Buttrey got six outs for his first save of the season, retiring Freddy Galvis on a fly with two runners on to end it.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: Infielder and leadoff hitter Erik Sogard sat out after falling ill during Tuesday’s game.

Angels: Right-hander J.C. Ramirez is scheduled to face hitters Thursday for the first time since Tommy John surgery. He is expected back in June. … Shohei Ohtani faced live pitching again in a simulated game. The AL Rookie of the Year could make his post-Tommy John debut next week.

UP NEXT

Tyler Skaggs (2-2, 3.15 ERA) makes just his second home start of the season when the Angels go for the sweep. He faces Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez (3-1, 2.32), who has never beaten the Angels in three career starts.