Erick Aybar climaxed a three-run, ninth-inning rally with an RBI single Thursday, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 6-5 win over St. Louis.
Los Angeles won for the eighth time in nine games when the Cardinals’ Edward Mujica suffered his first blown save of the season in 22 chances.
St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright was still on the mound at the start of the ninth, but he gave up a leadoff single to Albert Pujols and was then relieved by Mujica.
Josh Hamilton homered on Mujica’s second pitch to forge a 5-5 tie. Howie Kendrick then singled and moved to third on a base hit by Mark Trumbo.
Mujica (0-1) retired the next two batters to give the Cardinals a chance to get into extra innings, but Aybar singled to center on a 2-1 pitch to bring home Kendrick.
The comeback made a winner out of Scott Downs (2-2), who worked the top of the ninth.
Allen Craig hit a three-run homer in the fourth for the Cardinals.
