Boxengasse » issue we have on offense, the coach said. Why

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- With the score tied in the ninth inning, Albert Pujols simply relied on experience.Pujols hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Los Angeles Angels an 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.In a situation like that, you try to do a good job to get on base, Pujols said. Ive had so many at-bats in that situation where, maybe earlier in my career, you try to do too much. But as I was getting older and learning from experience, I realized that if you just go out there and try to start a good swing and start a rally with a base hit or whatever, thats the main goal.Mike Trout had three hits and reached on a throwing error to start the ninth, diving headlong into first base to avoid a tag. Pujols also finished with three hits to go with three RBI.After his game-ending drive, Pujols slid feet first into home plate before a swarm of excited teammates helped tear off his jersey.Jefry Marte and Cliff Pennington homered in the fourth for the Angels, who won for the 10th time in 12 home games and extended Oaklands losing streak to five.Stephen Vogt tied it 6-all with an RBI single in the top of the ninth, but Mike Morin (2-1) relieved Cam Bedrosian and got pinch-hitter Danny Valencia to bounce into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.It was the second time the As grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners in scoring position.Those were two key spots where were talking about situational at-bats and getting an extra run, maybe two, manager Bob Melvin said. Late in games, when you have runners on and you get two outs in one at-bat, it ends up being a factor.Trout led off the bottom half and hit a grounder to third baseman Ryon Healy, who threw high and wide of first. Pujols then drove a 3-1 pitch from Ryan Dull (5-3) far over the left-field fence for his 581st home run.The slugger is two behind former St. Louis Cardinals teammate Mark McGwire for 10th on the career list. Pujols has 1,192 extra-base hits, passing Lou Gehrig for sole possession of ninth place, and his 20th walk-off plate appearance tied him for third-most since 1969, behind Dusty Baker and Rickey Henderson.Guys like Albert, it seems like late in the game, those guys want to be up there, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Theyre going to give you a good at-bat.One night after earning his first save, Bedrosian, filling in for injured closer Huston Street, blew an opportunity when he allowed the tying run in the ninth. Bedrosian put the first five batters of the inning on base before being removed in favor of Morin.Bedrosian said the outing reminded him just how short his memory has to be as a closer.It was just one of those nights where I suppose I didnt have my best stuff, he said. I wanted to be the guy that goes back out there and gets another save after the first one, but its a learning experience.After the As scored once in the eighth on Jed Lowries bases-loaded walk to cut the Los Angeles lead to 6-5, Coco Crisp singled leading off the ninth. Max Muncy walked and Vogt tied the game with a single to left-center. Muncy was tagged out in a rundown between second and third, but Bedrosian walked Khris Davis and Yonder Alonso to load the bases.Morin got Valencia to ground into a 1-2-3 double play.Jered Weaver limited Oakland to four runs (three earned) and nine hits in six innings. Weaver gave up runs in the second, third and fourth, but the Angels tied it in the bottom of each inning before taking a 6-4 lead in the fifth.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: Lowrie is playing with a bunion on his left foot. The team has ordered him orthotics in hopes of easing the pain but acknowledged that surgery might be an option. Lowrie is trying to avoid the disabled list.Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano has opted for Tommy John surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament. General manager Billy Eppler announced the decision but said Tropeano doesnt yet have a date or a doctor chosen. ... RHP Garrett Richards saw significant healing of his torn UCL from stem cell therapy at an imaging appointment. He plans to continue the treatment and will have more images taken in 10-14 days.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Jesse Hahn will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Thursday for his fourth start with Oakland this season. Hahn is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two appearances against the Angels and 2-4 with a 5.53 ERA in eight major league games this year.Angels: RHP Ricky Nolasco will make his Angels debut in the series finale. Nolasco was acquired from Minnesota on Monday along with RHP Alex Meyer in exchange for LHP Hector Santiago. Nolasco, who grew up 50 miles northeast of Angel Stadium in Rialto, is 4-8 with a 5.13 ERA. Cheap Saucony .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Saucony Shoes From China .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. http://www.cheapsaucony.net/ . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Wholesale Saucony Shoes . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Saucony Clearance Sale . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said Wednesday he envisions being able to return in 2016 -- but he put a caveat on his comeback.The 2015 NFL rushing leader, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on Sept. 22, said he wont return this season if the Vikings are out of playoff contention, adding it would be pointless to play if the team isnt capable of reaching the postseason.The Vikings, who have lost six of their past seven games after a 5-0 start, would likely need to win their final four games and get some help to reach the postseason. Peterson said he would be the one making the decision about whether he returns this season, but didnt say how many losses would lead him to decide to shut it down, adding hed play it by ear.Im thinking that were going to make the playoffs, so thats what Im keeping my mindset on, Peterson said. So, if thats not the case a week or two from now, we can settle bacck around.ddddddddddddPeterson established his reputation as a quick healer when he returned from a torn ACL in nine months to win league MVP honors in 2012, and he appears to be ahead of the curve again, with a chance to return in three months from an operation that typically keeps players out for four to six months. The running back is able to cut and run on a field, and Peterson said he feels back to where he was when he got hurt against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2.Coach Mike Zimmer has declined on several occasions to discuss a timetable for Petersons return but said on Wednesday that Petersons health -- not any other determining factors -- would dictate when hed return.The guys that are out here, Im trying to coach the best I can, Zimmer said. If he comes out, Ill try to coach him the best I can, whenever that is. ' ' '