Angels 10, Rockies 2
DENVER -- The Los Angeles Angels made quick work of Colorado starter Chad Bettis and blasted the Rockies 10-2 on Tuesday night.
Albert Pujols and Mike Trout hit three-run homers, Chris Iannetta hit a two-run shot and Matt Joyce hit a solo homer as the Angels built a 10-0 lead and knocked Bettis out after 2 1/3 innings.
Pujols hit his 26th homer in the first after Kole Calhoun doubled and Bettis hit Trout with a 1-2 pitch.
Joyce led off the five-run second with his fourth homer. Johnny Giavotella singled home a run after a walk and a sacrifice, and after Calhoun followed Giavotella with a single, Trout hit his 22nd home run.
Iannetta's fourth homer came with one out in the third and finished Bettis (4-4), who won his past two starts and allowed four runs in 12 1/3 innings in those outings. The four home runs, 10 runs and 10 earned runs allowed were all career-highs. His ERA rose from 3.67 to 4.95.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney (2-0) made his third start for the Angels since being promoted June 24 from Triple-A Salt Lake City. In his eighth career start, he pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings in his Coors Field debut.
Heaney gave up a homer to left fielder Drew Stubbs in the second, his third of the year. And Heaney gave up three straight singles in the sixth, the last a run-scoring hit by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
The second-place Angels won eight of their past nine games and 11 of their past 14. They are 2 1/2 games behind Houston, the closest they have been to first place in the American League West since they trailed by that margin on June 13.
The loss was the Rockies' eighth straight to the Angels and their ninth in 10 interleague games this year. The Rockies, who began a six-game homestand that will carry them to the All-Star break, have lost eight of their past 10 games.
Yohan Flande, after relieving Bettis, pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, getting 11 outs on ground balls in that span and allowing two singles, both in his final inning.
NOTES: 1B Albert Pujols tied the Angels' club record for home runs before the All-Star break. Garrett Anderson hit 26 homers before the break in 2000. ... In 3B Nolan Arenado and 2B DJ LeMahieu, the Rockies will have two All-Stars for the first time since 3B Jeff Cirillo and 1B Todd Helton were selected in 2000. ... Angels RHP Jered Weaver (left hip inflammation) threw on flat ground and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. He then will be evaluated to determine whether he needs a rehab start. ... Interim Angels GM Bill Stoneman will be with the team in Seattle, where the team opens a four-game series Thursday. ... OF Collin Cowgill (sprained right wrist) is at the Angels' facility in Tempe, Ariz., receiving treatment but is shut down for about another week.