Game 1 – 3 RBI singles in the 3rd give the Speakers a 3-1 lead. Alex Gordon’s SF in the bottom half narrows the lead to 3-2. The Speakers load the bases on a single, walk and HBP with 2 outs in the 5th when Albert Pujols offers shades of past glory and connects for a grand slam. The Speakers hold on, 9-5.
W – Carlos Martinez (1-2); L – Marcus Stroman; S – Jeremy Affeldt (2)

Game 2 – Charlie Blackmon greets Bud Norris with a lead off HR in the bottom of the 1st. The Lemonheads pick up 2 more in the 2nd on a Gordon RBI double and Brayan Pena RBI single. That would be enough for Collin McHugh and ‘Heads pen in a 4-2 victory. JD Martinez leads off the 6th with a rope to center that Yoenis Cespedes can’t catch up to. Cespedes crashes into the wall and must leave the game.
W – McHugh; L – Norris (3-5); S – Fernando Abad

Game 3 – The Speakers celebrate their second grand slam of the series when Danny Santana receives a gift from Chris Young (-26) in the 2nd inning. Pujols (5-5, 2-2B, 7th HR, 3-RBI, 4-R) again conjures up his scary card days as the Speakers roll, 11-1. Ian Desmond hits a bomb with 2 outs in the 9th to spoil Alex Wood’s shutout.
W – Wood (4-2); L – Young

The Speakers win their first series since taking 2 of 3 from the Birds of Pray in early August. Pujols raises his average from .195 to .216.