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Pujols, Angels open doubleheader with 11-1 rout of Red Sox

Jul 21, 2015 - 1:15 AM ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The first rainout at Angel Stadium in 20 years did nothing to slow the Los Angeles Angels' monthlong surge.

If anything, the Angels picked up speed.

Kole Calhoun and Albert Pujols homered during Los Angeles' seven-run second inning, and the Angels opened their first home doubleheader since 2003 with an 11-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

David Freese also hit a three-run homer in the AL West-leading Angels' fourth straight win and their 14th in 17 games overall. They only needed five pitches to score six runs at one point, surging to a huge early lead that allowed manager Mike Scioscia to rest a few regulars for the nightcap.

''Doubleheaders are not our favorite, especially split doubleheaders,'' Scioscia said. ''Our guys, we were fortunate to get some of them out early so they can relax, get out of their sweaty stuff and get ready for (the second game).''

Steady precipitation on Sunday caused the first rainout at Angel Stadium since June 16, 1995. Monday's 84-degree weather was back to normal, and groundskeepers dried the marshy outfield with a low-hovering helicopter.

The day off didn't hurt the Angels' lineup, but their All-Star starter had an inconsistent return to work. Hector Santiago (7-4) matched his career high with 10 strikeouts despite laboring into the sixth inning with 114 pitches.

Santiago hadn't pitched for the Angels since July 10, and he didn't appear in the All-Star Game.

''I didn't know where my breaking ball or my cutter was going to be,'' said Santiago, 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 30 strikeouts in his last five starts. ''Nine, 10 days off, it isn't fun. It's good to get a little extra rest in your arm, but then you definitely have to try and figure out how to do it again, figure out how to get back in that rhythm.''

Mike Napoli drove in Boston's only run of the series' first three games in the fourth inning. The last-place Red Sox lost their fourth straight.

Johnny Giavotella had a two-run single and Daniel Robertson hit an RBI double over a flailing Hanley Ramirez in left during Los Angeles' big rally against Eduardo Rodriguez (5-3), who left after 1 2/3 innings. The Angels eventually scored seven runs in a span of eight pitches by the 22-year-old Venezuelan.

Boston manager John Farrell dismissed speculation Rodriguez was tipping his pitches again, saying that flaw ''has been rectified.''

''Everything that happened was because of the location of the pitches,'' Rodriguez said. ''It was pretty much that way with all my pitches - the slider, fastball and changeup. I couldn't put the pitches where I wanted to. I've got to work on that a little more.''

Calhoun hit a two-run shot for his third homer in two games shortly before Pujols chased Rodriguez with his 547th career homer, moving him one behind Mike Schmidt for 15th place on baseball's career list.

Pujols also pulled even with Mike Trout for the AL lead with 27 homers. Trout went 1 for 4 with a walk.

After Napoli's RBI single in the fourth, Santiago escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Ryan Hanigan and Mookie Betts.

''When you get a guy with 110 pitches over five innings, it means you're seeing a lot of pitches and working deep counts,'' Farrell said. ''But he was able to make a number of 3-2 pitches with a sinking fastball and changeup to get the number of strikeouts that he did.''

HOMETOWN GUY

Boston rookie Noe Ramirez got cheers from friends and family when he relieved Rodriguez. The Southern California native who played up the street at Cal State Fullerton then gave up four unearned runs in the fourth when Pablo Sandoval's two-out error on Pujols' hard-hit ball eventually allowed Freese to hit his 11th homer over the ficus trees in center field, an estimated 452-foot shot.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia went 0 for 2 with a walk before leaving early. He planned to sit out the nightcap while being cautious with his previously strained right hamstring.

Angels: Reliever Cory Rasmus was added for the nightcap as the 26th player allowed in doubleheaders.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Steven Wright (3-2, 4.15 ERA) attempts to avoid a series sweep.

Angels: Andrew Heaney (3-0, 1.32 ERA) looks to build on his spectacular start in Orange County.