GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Ubaldo Jimenez is enjoying pitching for Cleveland, even now that slugger Albert Pujols has followed him to the American League.
Pujols went 0 for 2 with a walk for the Los Angeles Angels in a 6-5 win over the Indians on Thursday.
Alexi Amarista had two hits, including a two-run triple to help the Angels take a 5-0 lead.
Jose Lopez had a two-run homer and Ezequiel Carrera a two-run single for Cleveland, hitless for four innings.
Pujols, signed as a free agent, had fans buzzing by hammering a pitch from Jimenez well out of the ballpark, but foul. Pujols walked and scored as the Angels took a 2-0 lead in the first off Jimenez.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia was impressed by Pujols, who left the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals for a 10-year, $240 million contract.
"He is all about baseball, incredibly focused from the dugout to the batting circle to the box," Scioscia said. "That sets a tone."
Jimenez knows to bear down against Pujols. The right-hander has not allowed a homer to the first baseman and has held him to a .267 (4 for 15) average.
"I like facing him because it is a tough challenge," Jimenez said. "Ideally not with the bases loaded. You don't want to look bad, so you try to put a little more on your fastball."
Jimenez put too much on it in the first. He walked two, gave up two hits and threw a run-scoring wild pitch.
"My fastball was moving way too much," he said.
Jimenez is happy with his new team.
"They are happy with what they got and I am happy to be here," Jimenez said of the trade in which Cleveland sent four players, including former first-round picks Alex White and Drew Pomeranz to Colorado.
Jimenez, who went 15-1 to open 2010 and was the NL starter in the All-Star game, hurt his thumb and hip in spring training a year ago and started 1-7. He finished 10-13 combined, including 4-4 after the deal.
"I feel way better," he said. "I got hurt in the second game. Getting through the second this year is a good sign."
Angels right-hander Dan Haren liked his command. He walked one and struck out three.
"I can't throw it 95 (mph) past guys any more, but throwing strike one and getting ahead is what counts," said Haren, a three-time All-Star who was 16-10 a year ago.
"Dan had the ball down all day," Scioscia said. "He looked in midseason form with his slider and split."
Game notes
Angels RHP prospect Ryan Brasier walked two, then struck out Ryan Spilborghs and Russ Canzler in the ninth for the save. ... Cleveland's Josh Tomlin, who missed the final month last year with an inflamed right elbow, allowed four runs and six hits over three innings. ... Indians 2B Jason Kipnis got texts, tweets and teasing, but no American Idol invite after the MLB Network caught him singing Adele's hit "Someone Like You" during a game Wednesday against Arizona. "I sing it all the time, it relaxes me," Kipnis said. ... Indians minor-league catcher Chun-Hsiu Chen hurt his right leg -- simply by running onto the field for practice. "I sprained something, but it shouldn't be serious," said Chen, wearing a walking cast.
