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TORONTO (AP) — Filling in for the injured Albert Pujols, Marc Krauss didn't mind too much when the Toronto Blue Jays pitched around Mike Trout to get to him in a key situation.
"That's what I would do if I was a manager," Krauss said. "I'm 1-for-whatever, so why are you going to pitch to the best player in the game when you're clinging to a lead?"
What sounded like smart strategy didn't pay off when Krauss hit a go-ahead two-run double, helping the Los Angeles Angels rally to beat the Blue Jays 4-3 on Wednesday night, their seventh win in nine games.
"Marc Krauss, big hit tonight," manager Mike Scioscia said.
Krauss's key hit came one inning after he replaced Pujols, who left after being hit on the left hand by a pitch from Drew Hutchison.
After the game Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto sent a text saying the X-rays were negative.
"He's OK," Dipoto texted. "He'll be day to day with a bruised hand."
Pujols was hit just above the wrist in the fourth. He doubled over in pain after being struck and was examined by the trainer but stayed in the game to run the bases, eventually being stranded at third base.
Pujols handled one chance defensively in the bottom half of the inning, completing a double play at first base, before being replaced by Krauss in the fifth.
"It was sore to where he was going to have trouble gripping a bat," Scioscia said. "We had to make a move."
Trout hit a solo homer and Jered Weaver pitched seven innings to win his third straight start. The Angels have rallied to win in five of their past six victories.
Weaver (3-4) allowed three runs and four hits. He is 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA in his past three starts after losing four of his first six.
"Command has been there a lot more consistent than it had been," Weaver said.
Joe Smith worked the eighth and Huston Street finished for his 14th save.
Toronto lost for the ninth time in 11 games and dropped to 2-8 in one-run games.
"We're just in a little rough patch right now," manager John Gibbons said. "But these are our guys and we'll ride it out with them."
Carlos Perez singled to begin the seventh but was forced at second on Taylor Featherston's attempted sacrifice. Featherston stole second and went to third on a wild pitch but was tagged out after getting caught in a rundown on Erick Aybar's grounder.
Hutchison left after walking Trout. A wild pitch by Steve Delabar moved the runners to second and third before Krauss doubled to left-center. It was the second hit of the season for Krauss, while the RBIs were his second and third.
Hutchison (3-1) lost for the first time in nine starts this season. He allowed four runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings.
STREAKER
Aybar doubled in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, tying Pujols for the longest streak by an Angel this season.
ACROBAT
Blue Jays C Russell Martin leaped onto the fence in front of the Angels dugout and then jumped into the dugout while chasing Featherston's foul popup in the fifth. Martin didn't make the play as the ball bounced off the dugout roof.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Pujols missed 15 games in June and July 2011 after fracturing his left wrist in a collision at first base with Kansas City's Wilson Betemit.
Blue Jays: OF Michael Saunders has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee after seeing Dr. James Andrews. Saunders, who had knee surgery in spring training to repair a torn meniscus, is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks. ... SS Jose Reyes (left ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday. Gibbons said Reyes could return as early as Monday.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-3, 5.63) is 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in four road starts this season. He allowed one run over seven innings to beat Baltimore in his most recent outing, snapping a four-start winless streak.
Blue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey (1-5, 5.76) has allowed two home runs in four of his past six starts. He matched a season-worst by giving up seven runs in his most recent start, May 15 at Houston.
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