Angels' Pujols Closes In On 3,000th Career Hit

Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols is on the brink of joining Major League Baseball's exclusive 3,000-hit club after taking his tally to 2,999 on Thursday.

Los Angeles, May 4 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols is on the brink of joining Major League Baseball's exclusive 3,000-hit club after taking his tally to 2,999 on Thursday.

Pujols lined a two-run double to left field off Baltimore Orioles right-handed hurler Miguel Castro for his 2,999th career hit, extending the Angels' lead to 8-0 in the second inning of a 12-3 victory.

The 38-year-old from the Dominican Republic is one hit away from becoming the 32nd player to reach 3,000. He would join Adrian Beltre as the only Dominican born players to accomplish the feat. With a 3,000th hit, Pujols would also become just the fourth player to collect 3,000 hits and 600 home runs, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Alex Rodriguez.

Pujols entered Thursday's game with 2,998 hits. He grounded out in his first at-bat against Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman in the first inning. Facing Castro again in the fourth with the crowd on its feet, Pujols fouled off five straight pitches before taking a changeup off his left hip.

Facing right-handed relief pitcher Mychal Givens in the sixth, he popped out to first base and in his last at-bat of the night he flied out to right field against Darren O'Day in the eighth. Pujols's pursuit of the milestone has energized Angels fans, who stood, cellphone cameras poised, every time he came to the plate.

Now, however, it seems likely to come on the road. The Angels open a five-game road trip at Seattle on Friday.