Angels slugger Albert Pujols leaves game because of hamstring cramp
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A three-run double by Angels first baseman Albert Pujols in the third inning of Monday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners came with a price.
The Angels slugger clutched at his left hamstring as he ran between first base and second, and he was replaced by pinch-runner Tony Campana. Pujols was diagnosed with a left hamstring cramp, which could sideline him for a few days but probably not much longer.
The Angels went on to win the game, 8-1, and clinch a playoff berth.
Pujols has played an integral part in the Angels’ push toward their first American League West championship since 2009, entering Monday with a .273 average, 26 home runs, 35 doubles, 86 runs and 94 runs batted in. A win Monday night would clinch a playoff spot and reduce their magic number to win the division to three.
The Angels loaded the bases with two outs in the third when Efren Navarro drew a four-pitch walk from Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma, Kole Calhoun singled and Mike Trout walked.
Pujols fell behind in the count but fouled off four tough 0-and-2 pitches before smacking a down-and-away split-fingered fastball down the left-field line for a double and a 3-0 lead.
The hit gave Pujols 1,595 career RBIs, tying him with former Philadelphia Phillies slugger Mike Schmidt for 35th on baseball’s all-time list.
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