Pujols BM368078

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim traveled to visit the Oakland Athletics in a battle of California rivals on May 31, 2014. This series also featured the top two teams in the American League West. To start off the game, Erick Aybar hit a single, and then Grant Green reached on an error, which brought Albert Pujols to the plate with runners on first and second with no outs. Tommy Milone delivered an 84.5 MPH called strike to start the at-bat. This ball was thrown for the next pitch, and Albert Pujols hit it to right fielder Josh Reddick for a single. Both baserunners only advanced one base, to create a bases-loaded situation with no outs. Milone was able to settle down and retire the next three Angels batters while preventing any runs from scoring. At the game progressed, Los Angeles finally broke the 0-0 tie when Collin Cowgill hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. The Athletics responded with eleven unanswered runs, scoring one in the home half of the fourth inning, six runs in the seventh inning, and four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the win, the Athletics increased their division lead to 3.5 games over the Angels, who dropped to 30-25 with the loss.