ANAHEIM–With a tie game and a chance to coax one last inning out of his starting pitcher, Bruce Bochy elected to tempt fate, letting Derek Holland face the heart of the Angels’ order in the sixth inning.
The skipper went all-in. The Angels had the better hand.
It wasn’t rookie star Shohei Ohtani who ruined Holland’s night, as he was on the bench. It wasn’t cleanup hitter Justin Upton, as he drew a walk. It wasn’t even two-time MVP Mike Trout, who homered off Holland earlier in the game to knot up the score at 2-2.
It was 18th-year veteran Albert Pujols, who launched his 618th career home run into the right center field seats to put the Angels ahead for good in a 4-3 win.