ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver struck out 10 in eight dominant innings of four-hit ball, Peter Bourjos’ bases-loaded infield single broke open a scoreless game in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels won Albert Pujols’ hitless debut, 5-0 over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Erick Aybar put a bases-loaded triple down the right field line moments after two Kansas City infielders couldn’t handle Bourjos’ chopper, giving a comfortable lead to the Angels after a tense start to Pujols’ tenure.
The feared slugger went 0 for 3 with an eighth-inning intentional walk after getting several raucous pregame ovations from a crowd that still can’t quite believe he’s wearing a halo cap.
Pujols, who left St. Louis for a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Angels, lined into a first-inning double play before popping out in the third and striking out in the seventh.
In his fourth opening-day start for the Angels, Weaver (1-0) retired 13 straight after allowing back-to-back singles in the third inning, finished with double-digit strikeouts for the 12th time in his career, and didn’t walk a batter.
All-Star reliever Aaron Crow (0-1) took the loss.