CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Angels finally won a battle of the bullpens.
Albert Pujols homered again and Howie Kendrick hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning Saturday night that sent the Angels to a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Alberto Callaspo doubled off Matt Thornton (4-7) with two outs in the 10th and scored on Kendrick’s single.
The Angels bullpen had taken the loss in three consecutive games, but outdueled Chicago’s bullpen to break the Angels’ three-game losing streak.
“Hopefully we’re going to build from this and get a little more confidence in our bullpen,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Pujols’ 24th home run was his sixth in his last five games. Mike Trout continued his torrid season. He singled twice, scored two runs and scaled the wall in left-center field to rob Gordon Beckham of a home run in the second inning.
“I told him in the one at-bat, I’m like ‘You’re really good, man,’ because he does it all,” said White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. “He makes those catches in the outfield look so good. He hits for power, he can run as fast as anyone I’ve seen in a long time.
“He plays the game right, plays the game hard, has a smile on his face. The Angels are lucky to have him and he’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.”
Kevin Jepsen (2-1) worked a scoreless ninth. Ernesto Frieri pitched the 10th for his 13th save in 14 chances.
“Out of the bullpen, one of the tough things is you’re not really allowed to make any mistakes because a mistake changes the game,” Jepsen said. “You put one pitch where you don’t want to and you lose the game. The blame comes on us and that’s the way it is and that’s the way we like. We’ve always had confidence and we’ve never lost it.”
Kevin Youkilis homered twice for the White Sox, logging his first multihomer game since Sept. 28, 2009, and the 10th of his career. A.J. Pierzynski added a solo shot for the AL Central leaders.
Pujols put the Angels ahead 5-3 with his solo homer in the seventh.
Youkilis hit a tying, two-run shot off LaTroy Hawkins in the bottom half. Youkilis also hit a solo homer in the first.
Pierzynski homered in his fourth straight game, matching a career best. He extended a career high with his 20th home run.
Pujols got into it with umpire crew Chief Dana DeMuth in the first after Pierzynski’s foul pop down the first base line was knocked away by a fan. DeMuth ruled that the ball was in the stands and the fan was free to go for the ball, prompting a visit from Scioscia.
Pierzynski later popped out to strand runners on first and second.
Scioscia also took issue with the umpires in Friday night’s 8-6 loss when the Angels filed a protest after a baserunning call went against them.
Angels starter Ervin Santana allowed three runs_two earned_in six innings. He lowered his ERA to 5.83 in his second consecutive satisfactory start after his turn in the rotation was skipped in late July.
“Ervin looked solid,” Scioscia said. “Better fastball, better breaking ball in good spots.”
Gavin Floyd bounced back from a 41-pitch, three-run first inning to work deep into the game. He was chased by Pujols’ seventh-inning homer.
NOTES: The White Sox bullpen had allowed only three runs in its last 33 innings of work before Thornton was touched up. … The start of the game was delayed for 21 minutes because of to rain. … Angels RHP Jordan Walden (strained right biceps) is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Monday. … Angels LHP Scott Downs (left shoulder strain) will begin a throwing program on Monday. … Francisco Liriano (3-10, 5.18 ERA) makes his home debut for the White Sox in the series finale on Sunday against Dan Haren (8-8, 4.59).
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