The 1971 California Angels spent a whole two days in first place an they did it in Minnesota during a sweep of the Twins. Of course it was early in the season. On April 16, Rudy May struck out 9 Twins in 7 innings of a 4-1 Angels win. On Saturday the 17th, Andy Messersmith went the distance in a 4-3 Angels triumph over Bert Blyleven and Ron Perranoski. Tony Conigliaro and Jerry Moses homered for the Halos. Sunday's 5-4 victory featured a tense 9th inning. Clyde Wright had two men on with two outs in the 9th in search of a complete game when pinch hitter Rod Carew singled in a run. Dave LaRoche was called from the bullpen and promptly gave up a bases-clearing double to pinch hitter Ron Renick. Interestingly, pitcher Jim Kaat had been brought in as a pinch runner for Carew, but he would be the last man to score a run that afternoon, as Mel Queen struck out Cesar Tovar to record his 3rd save of the season and the final out of the Angels sweep of the Twins.
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