After 2 HRs, Pujols beaned but escapes injury

ANAHEIM — Albert Pujols managed a smile when he finally reached first base in Tuesday’s seventh inning, and so did everybody else, too.

The Angels’ cleanup hitter had taken a 92-mph fastball from Rangers reliever Tony Barnette to the side of the head, putting a dark spin on a night when Pujols cranked a couple of three-run homers to eventually carry his surging Angels to an 8-6 victory, their fifth in a row.

He collapsed to the ground, but quickly sprung up, noticeably dazed at first. He told an apologetic Barnette he was fine, but his head stung, and Angels trainer Adam Nevala arrived just as Pujols’ hands dropped to his knees. Nevala cupped his hands around Pujols’ face. Three Angels coaches — manager Mike Scioscia, first-base coach Gary DiSarcina and third-base coach Ron Roenicke — surrounded them, and Barnette stood off to the side.

Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun looked on, staring from the top step of the dugout as Pujols then dropped to a knee. But he sprung up within five seconds, and he walked to first base, and he told Nevala that he would remain in the game, because it was the seventh inning and the Angels were only ahead by a couple of runs.

And so he did.

And then he smiled.

“It could’ve been worse,” Pujols said moments afterwards. “It could’ve been in my face. I’m just glad I was able to smile and not pop my eyes …

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