Simmons' slam helps Angels edge Blue Jays
ANAHEIM -- Andrelton Simmons hit a grand slam in the third inning to turn a tie game into a 5-1 lead, and Tyler Skaggs pitched seven strong innings for the second consecutive start as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 at Angel Stadium on Saturday.
It was just the second win in 11 games for the Angels, a span that saw the club score just 16 runs in nine games before scoring seven runs in an extra-inning loss to Toronto Friday. Mike Trout had a pair of doubles.
Toronto, which has not won a series or back-to-back games, fell to 4-13. Kevin Pillar hit a two-run home run in the seventh off reliever Tyler Yates to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, and Justin Smoak had three hits, including a ninth-inning home run, for Toronto.
Simmons has been one of few productive hitters for the Angels this season, hitting over .270. He hit Casey Lawrence's first pitch with the bases loaded in the third over the left-field fence.
Skaggs was coming off his best outing of the season, throwing seven innings and allowing no runs against Kansas City in a 1-0 loss. Saturday, he went seven-plus innings, allowing seven hits, one walk and two runs while striking out four.
He received stellar defensive play behind him. The Angels turned three double plays for Skaggs -- in the second, fourth and sixth -- and shortstop Simmons had a great stop and shovel to start a double play in the ninth.
The Angels led 5-1 as Skaggs started the eighth, leaving after 100 pitches and a leadoff double to Ryan Goins. Yates, recalled Saturday from Salt Lake City and making his Angels debut, replaced Skaggs and didn't fool anyone.
Pillar hit a two-run home run to left to cut the lead to 5-3. Chris Couglan hit a deep fly to center tracked down by Trout. Jose Bautista followed with a deep drive in the right-field gap that Kole Calhoun turned into an out with a diving catch on the warning track.
Smoak homered to start the ninth. Bud Norris relieved and gave up a single to Steve Pearce, but Simmons' dive started a double play and Norris struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia to end it.
Both teams scored a two-out run in the first inning.
With two down and Darwin Barney at first, Kendrys Morales blooped a single to right field to put runners on the corners and Smoak followed with a single to center to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
Lawrence, making his first major league start, got the first two outs in the first but Trout reached when third baseman Barney muffed a grounder. Albert Pujols followed with a single to left and C.J. Kron added a sharp single up the middle to score the unearned run.
Lawrence ran into trouble in the third. He walked Calhoun, and Trout followed with a ground-rule double to left. After inducing a popup from Pujols, he pitched around Cron, issuing a walk, to get to Simmons.
Simmons, a native of the Netherlands who is best known for his defense, slugged Lawrence's next pitch over the wall in left for his third home run of the season and second career grand slam.
His first grand slam came in 2014 with the Atlanta Braves.
Skaggs, who allowed no runs over seven innings against the Houston Astros in his last start, was sharp again after the first-inning run.
NOTES: The Angels received another dose of bad news Saturday for their ailing pitching staff. RHP Cam Bedrosian, who hadn't allowed a run in six appearances as the new closer with Huston Street (elbow) on the 60-day DL, suffered a groin injury and was placed on the 10-day disabled list. RHP Garrett Richards, who missed most of 2016 after a UCL tear in his elbow, was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list as he continues therapy. He started one game this season, lasting 4 1/3 innings, before the elbow tightened up ... The Angels sent RHP Alex Meyer, who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to start Friday's 8-7, 13-inning loss, back down to the minors. RHP Daniel Wright and RHP Kirby Yates were recalled to replace Meyer and Bedrosian ... The Blue Jays placed SS Troy Tulowitzki on the 10-day disabled list after injuring his right hamstring sliding into third base Friday night. The Blue Jays also optioned RHP Daniel Barnes to Buffalo, and recalled pitchers RHP Casey Lawrence and RHP Leonel Campos ... Blue Jays INF Ty Kelly was claimed by the Phillies off waivers.