Angels edge White Sox for MLB-best 5th walk-off victory

ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 16: Cameron Maybin #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits an RBI single in the fourth inning during the MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 16, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 16: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim catches a line drive to center off the bat of Leury Garcia of the Chicago White Sox in the first inning during the MLB game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 16, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 16: Pitcher JC Ramirez #66 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches in the first inning during the MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 16, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 16: Yolmer Sanchez #5 of the Chicago White Sox is tagged out trying to steal second base by Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first inning during the MLB game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 16, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 16: Cameron Maybin #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gets a high-five from Kole Calhoun #56 after Maybin scored in the third inning during the MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 16, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 16: Yolmer Sanchez #5 of the Chicago White Sox, catcher Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and MLB umpire Tripp Gibson #73 watch Sanchez’s two-run home run leave the park in the sixth inning during the MLB game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 16, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Derek Holland throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS101
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher JC Ramirez throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS102
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, left, gets ready to tag out Chicago White Sox’s Yolmer Sanchez as Sanchez tries to steal second during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS104
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, right, steals second as Chicago White Sox second baseman Yolmer Sanchez takes a late throw during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS105
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout signs autographs prior to a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS106
Los Angeles Angels’ Cameron Maybin, right, scores on a single by Albert Pujols as Chicago White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez stands at the plate during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS107
Los Angeles Angels’ Martin Maldonado, right, takes a lead off of first as Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, second from left, stands at first while first base coach Alfredo Griffin, left, and first base umpire Brian Gorman watch during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS108
Chicago White Sox’s Yolmer Sanchez points to his dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS109
Sunflower seeds are thrown at Chicago White Sox’s Yolmer Sanchez in the dugout after he hit a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS110
Los Angeles Angels’ Jefry Marte watches his RBI single as Chicago White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez jumps during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS111
Chicago White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez, center, gets ready to tag out Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols, right, as Pujols tried to score on a single by Jefry Marte, while home plate umpire Tripp Gibson watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS112
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, right, scores on a single by Jefry Marte as Chicago White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez stands at the plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS113
Los Angeles Angels’ Jefry Marte, right, hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS115
Chicago White Sox’s Avisail Garcia scores on a single by Todd Frazier under the tag of Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado, right, as home plate umpire Tripp Gibson watches during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS117
Chicago White Sox’s Avisail Garcia, right, scores on a single by Todd Frazier ahead of the tag of Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS118
Chicago White Sox’s Avisail Garcia celebrates after scoring on a single by Todd Frazier during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS116
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons fields a ball hit for an RBI single by Chicago White Sox’s Todd Frazier during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS119
Chicago White Sox’s Todd Frazier hits an two RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS120
Chicago White Sox’s Tim Anderson is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo home run during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS121
Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols hits a game-winning RBI single during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS124
Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols reacts as he hits a game-winning RBI single during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS123
The Angels’ Albert Pujols, third from right, is mobbed by his teammates after he drove in the winning run in their 7-6, 11-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Teammates celebrate with Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols after Pujols hit a game winning RBI single during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS125
Los Angeles Angels’ Martin Maldonado, right, dumps liquid on Albert Pujols after Pujols hit a game winning RBI single during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS122

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ANAHEIM — Albert Pujols reached out, Leury Garcia reached up, and the Angels walked off the Chicago White Sox, 7-6, in 11 innings Tuesday.

A bizarre win, the Angels’ third straight, ended on a bizarre play.

“As soon as I hit the ball,” Pujols said, “I knew the game was over.”

With the bases loaded against White Sox closer David Robertson, Pujols reached out and poked a fly ball to center field, where Garcia was playing shallow. The ball had plenty of distance to serve as a sacrifice fly — except the ball caromed off Garcia as he ran back on the ball. The play was scored a single and Pujols had his third RBI as Ben Revere scored from third base.

The Angels lead Major League Baseball with five walk-off wins. This one evened the Angels’ record at 21-21, bringing them back to .500 after a 12-day hiatus.

“These guys come back their fair share this year,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “It isn’t going to happen every day, but when it does it feels great.”

The Angels haven’t swept a series since the A’s visited Anaheim on April 25-27. They can change that Wednesday, their last home game before a 10-game East Coast swing beginning Friday.

This game featured two late comebacks. The White Sox took a 6-5 lead in the top of the 11th inning when Tim Anderson hit a solo home run against Angels pitcher Yusmeiro Petit (1-0). Anderson had missed the previous four games to mourn the death of a friend.

The Angels led, 5-2, after eight innings. Closer Bud Norris was unavailable after throwing 27 pitches the day before, his third appearance in as many days.

Instead veteran right-hander David Hernandez had the task of getting three outs to preserve the win. A closer by the unlikeliest chain of events, Hernandez had allowed only one run in his first 11 appearances. He began the season with the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate and hadn’t recorded a save since May 2016 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Tuesday, he was charged with facing the heart of the Chicago White Sox lineup. Melky Cabrera led off the ninth with a single. Jose Abreu followed with a single of his own. Avisail Garcia doubled to drive in Cabrera, bringing the White Sox within 5-3.

With runners on second and third, Todd Frazier tapped a grounder to the right of the mound. Hernandez couldn’t reach the ball, which angled off the glove of second baseman Danny Espinosa into short right field. Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons recovered the ball but couldn’t throw it home in time to prevent Abreu and Garcia from scoring.

Now the score was tied, 5-5. Petit was summoned to get the final three outs — two on bunts — and send the game into extra innings.

“We were going to try to match up” without Norris, Scioscia said. “David’s been throwing the ball really well for us. A little misfortune, but Petit did a great job to keep it as a tie. One pitch to Anderson ended up out of the park. Outside of that, he pitched well.”

Even Anderson’s home run almost was not.

Cameron Maybin, the Angels’ left fielder, took a poor route to get underneath the deep fly ball. When he arrived at the wall, Maybin’s feet were caught under the padded portion of the fence. He was physically unable to jump for a ball that barely cleared the wall.

“I misplayed it,” Maybin said. “That’s a ball I should catch easy. … I didn’t think he got it that good but he did.”

Trailing 6-5 at that point, Simmons led off the 11th inning with a single and went to second on a passed ball. Espinosa bunted back to the mound, where Robertson spun and threw to third base. The throw was inside the bag, but third baseman Tyler Saladino tagged out Simmons to erase the threat.

With one out, Revere hit a flare single into center field, sending Espinosa to second base. Maybin lofted a fly ball that landed in a Bermuda Triangle in shallow left-center field and wound up on second base with a double. Espinosa scored and Maybin had his fifth hit, a career high.

Mike Trout was walked intentionally for the second time, ending his quest for home runs in five straight games. That set up Pujols’ walk-off hit.

Angels starter J.C. Ramirez allowed five hits and two runs in seven strong innings before the announced crowd of 36,089.

The White Sox took an aggressive approach against Ramirez. It resulted in plenty of hard contact but only five hits. One, a two-run home run by Yolmer Sanchez in the sixth inning, accounted for all the damage.

Ramirez didn’t walk a batter and only struck out two. This too was a byproduct of Chicago’s aggressive approach. Only 9 of the 25 batters he faced even got to a two-strike count.

“I had a plan today that I’ve been doing in the past,” Ramirez said. “I had 100 percent confidence in myself. (Martin Maldonado) called a fastball inside, I threw a fastball inside.”

The Angels nickel-and-dimed White Sox starter Derek Holland for seven hits and three runs in six innings. Pujols got the Angels on the board with a long single in the third inning to drive in two runs. He claimed sole possession of 11th place on baseball’s all-time RBI list with 1,847.

In the fourth inning, Maybin drove in Simmons to give the Angels a 3-0 lead.

The Angels scored twice more in the seventh inning, on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single by Jefry Marte.

Angels edge White Sox for MLB-best 5th walk-off victory

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