Dodgers respond to Albert Pujols' historic 700th dwelling operate with blend of awe and anger

Right until Albert Pujols crushed a fastball by Andrew Heaney for house run No. 699 of his occupation in the 3rd inning Friday, the Dodgers felt very little but affection for their former teammate.

“Tio! We really like you and we’ll see you shortly, primarily on the golfing course,” said Justin Turner for the duration of a Dodger Stadium video clip tribute to Pujols in advance of the activity.

Until eventually Pujols crushed a slider by Phil Bickford for house run No. 700 in the fourth inning of an 11- St. Louis Cardinals victory, the Dodgers have been captivated by his unfathomable chase to be a part of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth in most likely the most special club in baseball record.

“You are an amazing human staying off the subject,” gushed Max Muncy throughout the same tribute before joining Turner in offering Pujols and Yadier Molina shiny new golf luggage in a pregame ceremony.

When Pujols wept while circling the bases with the group of 50,041 standing and howling in appreciation, when Pujols large-fived former Dodger Adrian Beltre in the initial row soon after crossing the plate, Dodgers players and manager Dave Roberts were being prevail over by a crosscurrent of emotions.

“I was really pissed about the execution we had tonight, but you have to often move back and enjoy that it’s not usually about you,” Roberts reported. “In this unique scenario, it’s unquestionably more substantial than all of us and for sports, so I guess if we are not heading to execute pitches, I’m satisfied it was Albert.”

Heaney, a teammate of Pujols with the Angels from 2015-21, was promptly distraught that the two-strike fastball Pujols swatted into the remaining-subject stands was thigh significant more than the center of the plate alternatively than above the strike zone as it was meant.

“My reaction arrived when it left my hand,” he mentioned. “I understood that [expletive] was going suitable down the middle and that is not very good with him, so he bought it seriously superior.”

Did he inevitably value Pujols’ achievement?

“As I step away, it will be a very little cooler for me,” Heaney reported. “Right now, it’s a sore spot. I’ll in all probability appreciate it a lot more in the coming times, but I’m genuinely happy for him. I observed his 3,000th strike, his 600th [home run], noticed him do a lot of awesome stuff.”

Bickford, who as a Dodgers rookie previous season valued Pujols as a mentor, was struck by a wave of conflicting views as Pujols rounded the bases to a standing ovation. He bent down driving the mound, picked up the rosin bag and dropped it, then soaked it all in. What else could he do?

“At initially I was upset that I gave up the dwelling run but when the group reacted and I observed all the smiles, it was a pretty special moment for MLB,” he claimed. “Albert Pujols is one of the most awesome individuals I’ve at any time satisfied and, yeah, soon after I received upset above supplying up the house run, it was a unique instant.”

Bickford flashed back again to the 2nd 50 percent of final period, when Pujols wore a Dodgers uniform and doled out hugs like sweet bars.

“He’s the nicest man ever,” he mentioned. “He’s a massive aged teddy bear, an individual you have practically nothing but fantastic factors to say about. He’s a really variety man or woman.”

Yet 1 with a perception of humor. Asked what he’d say to Bickford when they crossed paths Saturday, Pujols laughed and mentioned, “I’ll say, ‘Thank you for the hanging slider.’”

The Dodger shut sufficient to hug Pujols equally occasions he touched household plate was Dodgers catcher Will Smith, who previous yr reported as a boy he’d idolized Pujols, whose occupation started in 2001 when Smith was 6 decades aged.

But Smith didn’t hug Pujols just after the property runs. Of system he did not. He’d named the pitches. He wasn’t joyful. Nonetheless, of system, he sort of was joyful.

“As a lover as a child, it is cool to be in that second, but as a competitor I preferred to get him out,” Smith explained. “I want to defeat him, whoever we are dealing with.

“It was interesting to see in a unusual way, but sadly they received us.”

The Dodgers have gained 104 game titles this season. They’ll win extra. Friday was the strangest night time of the time, acquiring shellacked by the Cardinals and becoming on the incorrect aspect of record with Pujols, a guy they dearly like.

When the swirling feelings quieted, the Dodgers identified they’d witnessed rare greatness and weren’t ashamed to admit it.

“I never consider persons — whether you aren’t a participant or have performed — know how really hard it is to be constant more than two a long time,” Roberts mentioned. “There are fellas who have a fantastic time or a pair good seasons or a few great seasons, but to be ready to take care of your system and have the generate calendar year in and yr out, to put you in this elite course — I really don't feel even elite does it justice — it is something I just can't even fathom, to be pretty genuine with you.”