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 But designated hitter Raul Ibanez did, hitting the go-ahead
sacrifice fly in the ninth inning for the 4-3 victory after Pujols
was walked intentionally for the second time in the game.
"Let somebody else beat you," Gibbons said.
Ibanez did not feel slighted.
"Hungry is a good word but I'm not emotional about it," he said.
"Albert is a great hitter and I'm just looking to get the job done."
Center fielder Mike Trout homered for the Angels (17-17) in the
opener of a four-game series.
The Angels ended a two-game losing string and snapped a five-game
winning streak by the Blue Jays (18-18).
After the Blue Jays tied the score in the eighth on the third home
run of the season by shortstop Jose Reyes, Angels shortstop Erick
Aybar led off the ninth with a triple against left-handed reliever
Brett Cecil (0-3).
"He's swinging the bat nice, he has confidence up there," said
Angels bench coach Dino Ebel who is running the team while manager
Mike Scioscia attends his daughter's college graduation. "Hats off
to him getting that big triple there in the ninth inning."
 Aybar, who also had two doubles, stayed at third on a grounder to
second by Trout. He was safe on an error by first baseman Edwin
Encarnacion, who did not touch first base after taking the throw
from Chris Getz. Pujols was walked intentionally and Ibanez hit a
sacrifice fly to left to put the Angels in the lead. Trout was
thrown out trying for third on the fly.
"You prepare, do all this work, and you feel like you're supposed to
get the job done," Ibanez said. "When you don't, you're
disappointed, and when you do, you help the team, that's really the
most important thing."
Ernesto Frieri pitched the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
The Angels took a 3-2 lead in the seventh when reliever Steve
Delabar walked second baseman Howie Kendrick with the bases loaded
and two out. Delabar came in to face Kendrick after reliever Sergio
Santos loaded the bases on a one-out double by Aybar, a two-out
intentional walk to Pujols and a walk to Ibanez.
"That's where we've struggled this year -- throwing strikes out of
the bullpen," Gibbons said.
"Coming in where I came in you just want to get ahead," Delabar
said. "I didn't do that and obviously the result wasn't what we
wanted. I felt great. I thought it was right there. When I released
the ball I thought I was in the zone and it was nowhere close."
Reyes led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run against
right-handed reliever Joe Smith (2-0) to tie the score at 3. Right
fielder Jose Bautista, who has reached base safely in all 36 Blue
Jays games this season, singled with one out. The inning ended with
Bautista stranded at second.
Angels starter Garrett Richards made three wild pitches, two leading
to a first-inning run, in his seven-inning outing. The right-hander
allowed five hits, two hits and two runs while striking out six.
"Richards is one of the best young pitchers in the game," Gibbons
said. "He can overpower you."
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"I was a little soggy today, but I just wanted to come out and give
us a chance to win and try to as deep into the game as possible."
Richards said.
Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan did not factor in the decision
after allowing seven hits, two walks and two runs in five innings. "I didn't have a slider at all and the changeup got me through,"
McGowan said.
The Blue Jays scored a run in the first inning with the help of two
wild pitches. Reyes led off with a single and left fielder Melky
Cabrera walked. The runners advanced on a wild pitch as Bautista
struck out. Reyes scored on a wild pitch on ball three to
Encarnacion, who walked one pitch later.
Angels right fielder Collin Cowgill tied the score 1-1 in the second
on a single that scored left fielder Efren Navarro, who had doubled
to left center with two out.
Trout led off the third with his seventh homer of the season to put
the Angels into a 2-1 lead.
The Blue Jays tied the score in the home half of the third on the
third wild pitch of the game by Richards. It allowed Cabrera to
score from third after he led off with a single, stole second and
took third on a flyout.
A review of a play at the plate saved the Blue Jays a run in the
fifth. A two-out walk to Ibanez and a single by Kendrick put Angels
runners at first and third. McGowan uncorked an 0-2 pitch that went
to the backstop and bounced back to catcher Dioner Navarro, who
tagged Ibanez as he tried to score. Plate umpire Angel Hernandez
called Ibanez safe. Gibbons challenged the call. The video review
determined that Ibanez was out.
NOTES: Angels LHP Hector Santiago was removed from the starting
rotation after going 0-6 with a 5.19 ERA in his first seven starts
this season. No replacement has been named for his spot in the
rotation that comes up next Tuesday in Philadelphia. ... Blue Jays
3B Brett Lawrie (hamstring), who has not played since last Monday,
could return to action this weekend. ... Angels manager Mike
Scioscia will miss the first two games of the series to attend his
daughter's college graduation. Bench coach Dino Ebel is acting
manager. ... The Blue Jays wore red caps for the game to commemorate
the national day of honor for the Canadian Armed Forces. ... LHP
Tyler Skaggs (2-1, 4.54 ERA) will start Saturday for the Angels
against Blue Jays LHP J.A. Happ (1-0, 1.93 ERA).
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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