Erick Aybar also went deep for the Angels, who had six different players with at least one RBI.
Pujols, who ended a seven-game homerless drought in Monday's series-opening loss, made it two games in a row in the fourth inning as he golfed a 2-2 offering from Ubaldo Jimenez just inside the foul pole and over the short wall in left field for his 26th blast. He added a double in the sixth that plated Torii Hunter, who led off the frame with a single.
Greinke (1-1) won for the first time in four starts since being acquired from Milwaukee, allowing four runs and eight hits over seven innings. The former American League Cy Young Award winner walked one and struck out five as he lowered his ERA with the Angels to 5.54.
Los Angeles jumped on Jimenez early, scoring four times in the opening inning on RBI singles by Hunter, Kendrys Morales, Mark Trumbo and Chris Iannetta. After Michael Brantley halved the deficit with a two-run homer in the fourth, Aybar led off the bottom half with his sixth blast.
Jimenez (9-12) was battered for eight runs and eight hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out four en route to his fifth loss in six decisions.
Casey Kotchman belted a two-run homer and Brantley finished with three hits and three runs scored for the Indians, who fell to 1-1 on their nine-game road trip.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Indians placed RHP Josh Tomlin on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow. Tomlin is 5-8 with a 6.36 ERA in 21 games, including five relief appearances. ... Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher served his one-game suspension for "aggressively" arguing balls and strikes in the first inning of Sunday's game against Seattle. ... Los Angeles relievers Scott Downs (shoulder) and Jordan Walden (neck/biceps) both are likely to be activated by the end of the week.
Cleveland | LA Angels | |
Ubaldo Jimenez | Player | Zack Greinke |
Loss | W/L | Win |
4.0 | IP | 7.0 |
4 | Strikeouts | 5 |
8 | Hits | 8 |
18.00 | ERA | 5.14 |
Cleveland | LA Angels | |
Michael Brantley | Player | Chris Iannetta |
3 | Hits | 2 |
2 | RBI | 1 |
1 | HR | 0 |
6 | TB | 2 |
.750 | Avg | 1.000 |