Anaheim, California: Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer in the 13th inning and Joe Biagini escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 early on Saturday morning.
The Angels rallied after two Toronto errors in the 13th. Kole Calhoun drove in one run with a single, and Biagini plunked Mike Trout with the bases loaded for another. Biagini then struck out Albert Pujols and got C.J. Cron to line out to centre field for his first save.
In the top of the inning, Bautista hit his first homer of the season after two-out singles from Kevin Pillar and Ezequiel Carrera against Jesse Chavez (1-3). Bautista’s homer came on a 1-1 pitch and soared out to left-centre. The slugger had two hits to bring his average up to .131 this season.
Ryan Tepera (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings in the game that lasted 5 hours, 36 minutes.
Eight Angels pitchers combined to allow seven walks and throw two wild pitches, and Los Angeles also had two errors to waste offensive contributions from Trout and Pujols.
Trout hit his fifth homer in the fifth inning and had two hits and two RBIs. Pujols had a bases-loaded double in the third, moving him into a tie with Manny Ramirez for 18th on baseball’s RBI list at 1,831. The double was the 604th of Pujols’ career, tying him for 13th with Paul Waner.
Aaron Loup began pitching the 13th for Toronto, but Cameron Maybin reached on an error by first baseman Justin Smoak then advanced on a passed ball. Loup then walked Danny Espinosa, and third baseman Chris Coghlan then booted Juan Graterol’s grounder to end Loup’s outing, replaced by Biagini.
Toronto went ahead 5-4 in the eighth on a two-run double by Justin Smoak, but Los Angeles tied it later in the inning when Martin Maldonado’s fly ball landed just inside the left field foul pole, beyond the reach of a leaping Carrera for an RBI double.
Called up from the minors prior to the game, Toronto starter Mat Latos gave up four runs and six hits in five innings.
Los Angeles starter Alex Meyer lasted 3 2/3 innings in his first start of the season. Called up from Triple-A Buffalo prior to the game, he walked four batters while giving up two runs and two hits.
