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![Los Angeles Angels C.J. Cron watches his first-inning grand slam off New York Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone in an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM101]()
Los Angeles Angels C.J. Cron watches his first-inning grand slam off New York Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone in an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM101
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![Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (27) watches his second-inning two-run home run during an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM103]()
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (27) watches his second-inning two-run home run during an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM103
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![Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (27) crosses at the plate in front of New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki after hitting a second-inning, two-run home run off Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone in an interleague baseball game Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: OTKKW101]()
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (27) crosses at the plate in front of New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki after hitting a second-inning, two-run home run off Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone in an interleague baseball game Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: OTKKW101
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![Los Angeles Angels Andrelton Simmons (2) greets Angels’ Mike Trout (27) at the plate after they scored on C.J. Cron’s first-inning grand slam in an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki (26) is behind the plate. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM110]()
Los Angeles Angels Andrelton Simmons (2) greets Angels’ Mike Trout (27) at the plate after they scored on C.J. Cron’s first-inning grand slam in an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki (26) is behind the plate. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM110
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![NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: C.J. Cron #24 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim connects on a first inning grand slam home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 21, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)]()
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: C.J. Cron #24 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim connects on a first inning grand slam home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 21, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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![New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is prepared to tag Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa out at the plate in the first inning of an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Espinosa was out on the play. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM106]()
New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is prepared to tag Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa out at the plate in the first inning of an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Espinosa was out on the play. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM106
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![Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa sits at the plate after he was tagged out in the first inning of an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: OTKKW102]()
Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa sits at the plate after he was tagged out in the first inning of an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: OTKKW102
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![Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jesse Chavez delivers during the first inning of an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM108]()
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jesse Chavez delivers during the first inning of an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM108
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![New York Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone (29) reacts after allowing a solo home run to Los Angeles Angels Jefry Marte, left, in an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM109]()
New York Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone (29) reacts after allowing a solo home run to Los Angeles Angels Jefry Marte, left, in an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM109
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![New York Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone (29) looks the ball during the first inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Milone allowed eight runs on seven hits before New York Mets manager Terry Collins pulled him off the mound. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM104]()
New York Mets starting pitcher Tommy Milone (29) looks the ball during the first inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Milone allowed eight runs on seven hits before New York Mets manager Terry Collins pulled him off the mound. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM104
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![NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: Jesse Chavez #40 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches in the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 21, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)]()
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: Jesse Chavez #40 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches in the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 21, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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![New York Mets Jay Bruce, right, hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM111]()
New York Mets Jay Bruce, right, hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM111
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![New York Mets’ Wilmer Flores, (4) greets teammates Jay Bruce (19) and Michael Conforto (30) at the plate after he and Conforto scored on Bruce’s three-run home run during the sixth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM112]()
New York Mets’ Wilmer Flores, (4) greets teammates Jay Bruce (19) and Michael Conforto (30) at the plate after he and Conforto scored on Bruce’s three-run home run during the sixth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM112
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![Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout removes his elbow protector after hitting a third-inning RBI-double in an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM105]()
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout removes his elbow protector after hitting a third-inning RBI-double in an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM105
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![New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker reacts as the throw bounces in front of him with Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa sliding in on a first-inning, stolen base during an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM116]()
New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker reacts as the throw bounces in front of him with Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa sliding in on a first-inning, stolen base during an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM116
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![New York Mets shortstop Matt Reynolds (15) tags Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa (3) out at second base catching Espinosa stealing during the seventh inning of an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM113]()
New York Mets shortstop Matt Reynolds (15) tags Los Angeles Angels Danny Espinosa (3) out at second base catching Espinosa stealing during the seventh inning of an interleague baseball game, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM113
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![Los Angeles Angels Cameron Maybin (9) greets Angels’ Andrelton Simmons, right, at the plate as Angels Luis Valbuena, far left, waits his turn after Simmons hit a three-run, home urn, during the seventh inning of an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is between the trio. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM114]()
Los Angeles Angels Cameron Maybin (9) greets Angels’ Andrelton Simmons, right, at the plate as Angels Luis Valbuena, far left, waits his turn after Simmons hit a three-run, home urn, during the seventh inning of an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is between the trio. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM114
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![Home plate umpire Gabe Morales, left, signals as Los Angeles Angels Kole Calhoun (56) leaps after he was hit by a pitch during the eighth inning of an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki, center, watches from behind the plate. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM115]()
Home plate umpire Gabe Morales, left, signals as Los Angeles Angels Kole Calhoun (56) leaps after he was hit by a pitch during the eighth inning of an interleague baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in New York. Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki, center, watches from behind the plate. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ORG XMIT: NYM115
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NEW YORK — Jesse Chavez hit before he pitched.
That tells you what kind of start it was for the Angels, who sent nine hitters to the plate and scored five runs in the top of the first inning. They had a nine-run lead by the third, before coasting to a 12-5 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
Playing for a third consecutive day without Albert Pujols, who is nursing a sore hamstring, the Angels avoided a sweep by winning the series finale.
Although Pujols’ absence seemed to create a hole in the middle of the order in the first two games, the Angels didn’t seem to miss him on Sunday. They hit a season-high four homers, including the “homer cycle.” They hit one of each kind of homer, from a solo up to a grand slam.
C.J. Cron’s grand slam in the first inning, his first homer of the season, was the game’s defining blast. Mike Trout homered in the second inning, immediately followed by a Jefry Marte homer that made it 8-0 before they had made their fifth out.
Trout nearly hit two homers, but instead knocked a line drive off the top of the fence in center field, settling for a double. In his two other trips, the Mets walked him.
Every Angels starting position player had reached safely — by the second inning.
After Trout’s double knocked in Cameron Maybin in the third, the Angels had a 9-0 lead, their biggest lead at any point this season.
Chavez then did what a pitcher is supposed to do with a big lead … to a point.
He cruised through the Mets’ lineup for five innings. He gave up a couple solo homers, but he didn’t walk anyone.
In the sixth, though, Chavez made things a little too interesting. Starting his third time through the Mets’ order, Chavez gave up a double, a single and a three-run homer to Jay Bruce, cutting the lead to 9-5.
Just when it seemed the Angels might have to sweat a bit, Andrelton Simmons restored the comfortable lead with a three-run homer in the seventh, pushing the lead to seven.
More to come on this story.