Albert Pujols became the third player with 2,000 RBIs and he did it with the most spectacular method: a home run.
He found a fastball that stayed in the center of the plate, sent the ball into the seats in left field, threw the bat challengingly at his jubilant teammates in the dugout, and ran around the bases.
By the time he reached home plate, he had joined an elite of just three players in baseball history.
The Dominican slugger dispatched his solo homer in the third inning to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 13-0 Thursday.
“We ended up winning the game and the series. That’s more special, ”said Pujols. “There was a great moment there, being the third on the list.”
Pujols, a three-time MVP, joined Hank Aaron (2,297) and Alex Rodriguez (2,086) as the only players to reach that number since 1920.
Babe Ruth is credited with 1,992 career RBIs because the Major League Baseball record book does not take into account the runs the slugger produced for the Boston Red Sox between 1914 and 1919.
“To win games you have to push runs,” said Pujols. “I know there are a lot of geniuses now who don’t want to give RBIs any credit.”
Left-hander Ryan Carpenter (0-1) threw a fastball down the middle of the plate and Pujols blew the pitch on a 2-0 count down the right-field bleachers. The 39-year-old Dominican received a standing ovation from the sparse crowd at Comerica Park, where his milestone was highlighted on video screens and over the stadium’s speakers.
“He’s one of the best hitters that has ever walked on this planet, hands down,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. «For about 10 years, he has been the best. He was the Mike Trout of his day. Actually, it went from Pujols to (Miguel) Cabrera to Trout, but Albert’s work is clearly the best.
Luke Bard was the starter for the Angels after a 53-minute rain delay and pitched only one inning, allowing two hits. He was replaced by Dominican right-hander Félix Peña (2-1) with seven scoreless innings in which he gave up just three hits and struck out seven.
However, the Angels offered plenty of hits.
Shohei Ohtani ended his 7-0 at-bat start to the season with an RBI single in the first inning. The AL Rookie of the Year was 4-2 in his third game since being cleared to join the lineup after undergoing surgery on Tommy John in October.
Tommy La Stella hit the first of two home runs, a two-run hit in the second inning. Pujols’ sixth homer of the season gave Los Angeles a 6-0 lead. Kole Calhoun followed with another solo home run in the sixth inning and a Mike Trout sacrifice fly put it 9-0 in the seventh inning.
For the Angels, Pujols 4-1 with scored and RBI.
For the Tigers, Venezuelans Harold Castro 3-2, and Miguel Cabrera 3-1. The Dominican Ronny Rodríguez 3-0. AP