ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols mimicked Fernando Rodney’s celebratory bow-and-arrow routine as the Los Angeles Angels got to Seattle’s closer for one of their most dramatic comeback wins this season.
Pujols hit a tying double off the Mariners’ closer and Grant Green had a game-ending, bases-loaded single that lifted the Angels to a 6-5 win Sunday.
“Rodney’s one of the game’s best, and that’s a known fact,” the Angels’ Kole Calhoun said. “He’s an All-Star and somebody that they’re expecting to go out there every time and get the job done. But we’ve got one of the best offenses in the game, and we can put some runs up no matter who’s out there.”
Rodney (1-4), the former Angels’ closer, replaced Joe Beimel with one out in the eighth and retired the next two batters. He entered the ninth attempting to complete a five-out save for the 200th of his career, but the Angels rallied for their major league-leading 30th come-from-behind victory.
Mike Trout drew a leadoff walk and scored on Pujols’ 544th double, which broke a tie with Tony Gwynn for 28th place. When the three-time NL MVP pulled into second base, he mimicked Rodney’s bow-and-arrow routine.
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“That’s his thing,” Pujols said. “I’ve known Rodney for 15 years, so we go way back. And every time I see him, I tell him I’m going to do that to him if I get a big hit against him.”
Rodney had gone through the bow-and-arrow routine after Calhoun flied out to the warning track in center field for the last out in the eighth. The 12-year veteran spent two seasons with the Angels, converting just 17 saves in 28 attempts from 2010-11. He signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent and had career-best 48 saves in 2012.
“I did that for the fans, because when I came in, they booed me. It’s part of the game,” Rodney said after his third blown save in 30 chances this season. “I tried to get the save with five outs. They got me today, but tomorrow’s another day.”