Albert Pujols definitely knows that he's never gotten a hit against R.A. Dickey
With nearly 2,800 hits in his 16-year career, there aren't many pitchers who get the best of Albert Pujols. Just ask Roy Oswalt, whose 32 hits allowed to Pujols are the most of any pitcher the Angels slugger has faced, or Alex Cobb -- Pujols has gone a perfect 5-for-5 against the recovering Rays starter. But if you search far and wide, it is possible to find a pitcher with the edge. Unfortunately for Pujols, he faced that pitcher on Tuesday night:
Pujols entered the Angels' 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays 0-for-10 against Dickey, and he clearly knew it:
Pujols saluted the knuckleballer before his first at-bat on Tuesday, but it didn't help him any: He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in that very first at-bat.
"I think that was just a little tip of respect," Dickey told MLB.com's Alykhan Ravjiani after the game. "And I really appreciated it." But apparently not enough to take it easy on him.
So, Pujols remains hitless against Dickey -- but if we're looking for silver linings, he does have one sacrifice fly. Fortunately for him, the Angels have a four-game series against the Blue Jays in September, perhaps offering at least one more chance to finally get on base against Dickey.
