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Pujols, Angels rally past A's

Jun 20, 2015 - 5:46 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Albert Pujols hit a grand slam to highlight an eight-run seventh inning as the Los Angeles Angels rallied past the Oakland Athletics 12-7 in Friday's series opener.

Pujols finished with five RBI and three runs scored and Johnny Giavotella drove in three to save Angels starter Matt Shoemaker, who allowed five runs in four innings of work. Fernando Salas (1-1), one of five LA relievers to take the mound, earned the win for finishing the sixth inning.

Sonny Gray, who entered the game with the best ERA in the majors and a 5-1 career mark against the Halos, was roughed up for six runs -- five earned -- in six-plus innings for Oakland.

The A's put up a three spot against Shoemaker before he had recorded an out, as Billy Burns singled and Stephen Vogt walked to set up Ben Zobrist's homer to right. That trio combined for seven of Oakland's 11 hits and all seven RBI.

Giavotella plated a run in both the second and fourth innings for Los Angeles, but Burns plated Brett Lawrie with an RBI infield single in between.

Vogt's solo home run in the fifth gave the A's a three-run edge, and his two- run double an inning later made it 7-2.

Gray entered the seventh inning having thrown 97 pitches, and he wasn't able to record an out after facing four batters in the frame. Erick Aybar and Giavotella drew walks in front of singles from Matt Joyce and Chris Iannetta.

"I probably left him in a little too long," Bob Melvin said. "We brought him in here for a reason, to pitch deep into games."

Drew Pomeranz came on and promptly walked Daniel Robertson to force in a run and make it 7-4. After Edward Mujica (2-2) had taken over on the mound, Zobrist misplayed a line drive in left to allow another run to come in. Pujols followed with his grand slam down the left field line that measured just 351 feet, the shortest home run in the majors this season.

Mujica, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day, was pitching for the first time since May 21.

Giavotella capped the eight-run inning with an RBI single up the middle.

In the ninth, Pujols and Aybar ripped RBI doubles down the first base line to account for LA's final two runs.

Game Notes

Pujols' grand slam was the 13th of his career. It was also his 540th career homer ... Oakland activated Mujica and first baseman Ike Davis from the 15-day DL, optioned pitcher Arnold Leon to Triple-A Nashville and designated infielder Andy Parrino for assignment ... The Angels took two of three from Oakland earlier this month in LA.