LOS ANGELES — The crack of the bat was just as deafening as the roar of the crowd.
It was the top of the fourth at Dodger Stadium. Albert PujolsI had only seen two pitches from the reliever Phil Bickford. The first strike was called a slider that reached the top of the zone. Mike Estabrook, home plate umpire ruled the second strike a ball, even though it was nearly identical pitch and placed in the same spot as the first.
The third pitch — another slider — never stood a chance.
Albert Pujols was the star of Friday’s City of Angels. He signed another page with the same historic swing that helped him write the record books, as his 700th career homerun crossed the left-field fence. He seemed to be able to sense the significance of each swing and the enormity of the moment from the first contact. As he circled the bases of the stadium that he claimed had helped him to revive his career, he could not hide the joy, the excitement, and the appreciation for all of it.
“To be able to do it here, at Dodger Stadium, where I think my joy, pretty much, for this game came back … it’s pretty special,” Pujols said.
From the beginning, the night seemed to be destined for magic. Pujols began day two with home runs and were just two short of the 700 club. Manager Oli Marmol chose to bat him as the designated hitter. DodgersLeft-handed starter Andrew Heaney. Before the
