Bruce is hitting .360 this season with runners in scoring po

TORONTO -- Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols hit his 584th career home run in the first inning of Wednesday nights game at Toronto, breaking a tie with Mark McGwire and giving Pujols sole possession of 10th place on baseballs all-time list.Pujols went back-to-back with Mike Trout off?Blue Jays?right-hander Marco Estrada, the fourth time this season the Angels have hit consecutive homers.Pujols finished 4-for-4 with three RBIs. In addition to the home run, he hit a sacrifice fly in the second, singled in the fourth and sixth innings, and capped his night with an RBI double in the eighth as the Angels earned an 8-2 win over Toronto.It was the 24th home run of the season for Pujols. The 36-year-old leads the Angels with 99 RBIs.A three-time MVP and 10-time All-Star, Pujols is two home runs shy of tying Frank Robinson (586) for ninth place.A 16-year veteran, Pujols has hit at least 20 home runs in every season but 2013, when he was limited to playing in 99 games.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Alex Smith Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Sammy Baugh Redskins Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. https://www.redskinssportsgoods.com/Womens-Doug-Williams-Inverted-Jersey/ . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Clinton Portis Redskins Jersey . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Alex Smith Womens Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. NEW YORK -- One year after Jay Bruce nearly got traded to the New York Mets for Zack Wheeler, he finally put on the uniform Tuesday.The Mets acquired Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday for prospects Dilson Herrera and Max Wotell.Bruce made his Mets debut on Tuesday night against the New York Yankees, batting third and starting in right field. He went 0-for-4 and took a pair of called third strikes, but his new team scored its most runs since July 7 and won for the second time in seven games.Bruce should soon slide to the cleanup spot behind Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes was out of the lineup for a third straight game because of the latest flare-up of his balky right quadriceps.The Reds had bailed on trading Bruce to the Mets late in the process last year, and the Mets pivoted to acquire Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers.I feel like Ive been getting traded to the Mets for over a year now, Bruce said. You never know whats going to happen until it actually happens. Last year there was some crazy stuff during the deadline. I try not to jump to conclusions or assume anything. So I waited until I got the call. And when it happened, I was very, very excited.There were a lot of emotions. Theres a group of guys I grew up with over there in Cincinnati -- and guys that I have a lot of respect for both on and off the field. But Im in a new place and I get to know these guys, and it sounds like a great group of guys.Cespedes produced superhuman numbers after arriving last season, allowing the Mets to become the first team in major league history to win a pennant after ranking last in MLB in runs scored on July 31.Bruce arrives as the National Leagues RBI leader with 80. Asked whether he possibly could duplicate the type of jolt Cespedes provided in 2015, Bruce said: The only responsibility that I feel is to be the best version of myself. Im coming in to be a part of this team.During an introductory meeting Tuesday, manager Terry Collins asked Bruce about his ccomfort level in center field.dddddddddddd Bruce said he would be open to playing wherever the Mets needed him. Still, Collins indicated later in the afternoon that Bruce primarily would stick to right field for now. Bruces 35 major league starts in center field all came in 2008.The Mets have a glut of corner outfielders. But with Juan Lagares having undergone surgery Monday to repair a partially torn ligament in his left thumb, and with Justin Ruggiano being placed on the DL on Tuesday with a strained left hamstring, the Mets do not have a bona fide center fielder. Alejandro De Aza starts at the position on Tuesday. Collins plans to begin using Curtis Granderson there a fair amount beginning Wednesday.Bruce is hitting .360 this season with runners in scoring position. That type of success will be welcome on the Mets, who entered Tuesdays game hitting an MLB-worst .205 with runners in scoring position.A guy like that brings a lot of offense to this lineup, said?Jacob deGrom.Bruce hit a combined .222/.288/.406 in 2014 and 2015. He suggested his resurgence this year might be a product of feeling healthier.In 2014 I had knee surgery, he said. And Ill never use that as an excuse as to why I actually struggled. But I think it created some bad habits and it kind of leaked into 2015 a little bit for me. I think this year some small, small changes that I actually noticed the past two years -- and being healthy -- is key. I feel like myself again.Bruce recalled the Mets clinching the NL East title in Cincinnati last Sept. 26. He struck out to end that game, and was still raving about the final pitch of that game from now-teammate Jeurys Familia.The pitching staff here is unbelievable, Bruce said. One of the dirtiest pitches Ive ever been thrown was by Jeurys Familia.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.? ' ' '