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CHICAGO -- It took them nearly up until the All-Star break, but Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton finally went back-to-back. The Los Angeles Angels sluggers connected in the fifth inning of a 13-2 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night -- the first time Pujols and Hamilton homered in consecutive at-bats this season. After the game, Hamilton seemed a bit confused when asked for his reaction to the back-to-back homers. "Oh, I hit the solo after he hit his?" Hamilton said sarcastically before pausing. "Oh, that was awesome, man. We dont think about stuff like that." Actually, not thinking about too much has served Hamilton well over the last couple of weeks as he looks to rebound from a rough start in his first season with the Angels. Hamilton had two homers -- his first multihomer game with the Angels -- and five RBIs to lead an offence that hit five homers in all. His numbers (14 homers, 39 RBIs, .229 average) still arent close to what is expected from him approaching the All-Star break, but they are improving. "Im sort of just getting back to doing what you do and quit worrying about listening to everybody," he said. "Listen to the guys here I really care about, the coaches and the players, and go from there." The same could be said of the Angels entire lineup, which has been mostly responsible for the team winning 11 of 14 games to improve to 44-46. Mark Trumbo and Brendan Harris also homered and all of the Angels home runs were no-doubters. They hit a pair during a five-run first inning and then followed with three more in a six-run fifth, providing more than enough support for C.J. Wilson (9-6). "Offence is kind of a streaky thing sometimes," said Wilson, who allowed one run in seven innings to win for the fifth time in six starts. "You have instances where you score 13 runs, which is kind of a fluke no matter how good your offence is. I feel like our offence is capable of scoring six runs a night. Thats a good benchmark because of all the guys that have power throughout the lineup. "We have a lot of guys that, I think, are on the way back up to their level of play after slow starts. Thats the key. We just need to get everyone playing just the way they can play. Its not like they have to go out there and hit a grand slam every game or something like that." The Angels wasted little time in getting to Jeff Samardzija (5-9). Erick Aybar and Mike Trout started the game with doubles and Pujols drew the first of his three walks. Hamilton followed with a drive over the right-field wall for a three-run shot, his 13th of the season. A batter later, Trumbo connected on a hanging slider and hit it into the left-field bleachers to cap a five-run first inning. Leading 5-1, the Angels broke it open in the fifth as Pujols and Harris hit two-run shots and Hamilton added a solo homer. Samardzija allowed nine hits and tied a career high by giving up nine runs, including four homers, in 4 2/3 innings. "That game got out of hand," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Give credit to some really good hitters. They get paid a lot of money to hit mistakes and they obviously didnt miss em tonight." It was a big night for the entire lineup, but the focus was rightly on Hamilton because of his early struggles. "You make a big adjustment when you switch teams," said Wilson, who also was a teammate of Hamiltons with the Texas Rangers. "Youre living in a new place, youre going to the ballpark on a different route and all that stuff. I went through that last year, but the advantage I had was being from California. "Josh wants to do well. Hes knows what hes here to do. Hes knows hes here to hit and play great defence, and if he doesnt do well, hes upset. Hes having more fun and thats sort of contagious in itself." NOTES: RHP Scott Baker will throw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Thursday and general manager Jed Hoyer said hes "pretty close" to going on a minor league rehab assignment. Baker has been on the disabled list all year after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery and missing all of last year. ... The Cubs continue the homestand with a four-game series against St. Louis. Edwin Jackson (5-10) faces the Cardinals Jake Westbrook (5-3) in the opener Thursday night. ... After travelling from California to the Midwest for two games, the Angels return to the West Coast and open a three-game series at Seattle on Friday. Jerome Williams (5-4) faces the Mariners Joe Saunders (7-8) in the opener. Luis Aparicio Jersey Large . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Custom Michael Jordan Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. http://www.customwhitesoxjersey.com/custom-jeff-keppinger-jersey-large-171p.html .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Custom Bill Melton Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Custom Carlton Fisk Jersey . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage.Jimmy Gopperth believes the Hurricanes will use the pain of last years Super Rugby final loss to go one better in 2016. The Hurricanes won 14 of their 16 regular season games last year but were defeated 21-14 by New Zealand rivals the Highlanders in the decider at Westpac Stadium.Wasps fly-half Gopperth made 51 appearances and scored 354 points during his three seasons at the Hurricanes, and he told Rugby Club Agenda that he expects them to push on this year. Obviously Ive got a soft spot for the Hurricanes and I do like the look of their team this year, he said.They have got a few young guns coming in and some good strike power. Theyre definitely going to be pushing at the top. All the New Zealand provinces are strong this year. Its going to be really interesting. Jimmy Gopperth Last year was the first where they had a really consistent year, only to lose at the last hurdle. I think they can build on that.Theyve got some really great coaches in Chris Boyd and John Plumtree. I had the pleasure of working with them for a number of years in Wellington. They install a really good belief in the squad and theyll use last year as fuel in looking to push on. Sean Fitzpatrick and Michael Lynagh look ahead to the new Super rugby season Gopperth believes another of his former sides, the Blues, could be this years dark horses until the guidance of Tama Umaga, and says the Highlanders will be intent on proving they are not one-season wonders.ddddddddddddIts always tough going back to back but the Highlanders were outstanding last year, said Gopperth.I know Jamie Joseph well and he will drill them. Theyll be hungry just to show it wasnt a fluke or a one-off.All the New Zealand provinces are strong this year. Its going to be really interesting. Super Rugby season preview Sean Fitzpatrick looks at the New Zealand conference Meanwhile, Gopperth says it is a three-horse race in the battle to succeed Dan Carter as All Blacks fly-half.Beauden Barrett was the back-up No 10 at the World Cup but Aaron Cruden has returned from the knee injury that saw him miss the tournament, while Lima Sopoaga steered the Highlanders to Super Rugby glory last season.Aaron Cruden has got silky skills and has played for the All Blacks for a number of years, said Gopperth. He was unlucky with his injury before the World Cup. Beauden Barrett had a great World Cup and it was a great way to finish with a try in the final.Lima Sopoaga came on the scene last year, on the back of the Highlanders doing really well. He is a gifted ball player and a great goalkicker.Losing Dan Carter, and given that the goalkicking of the other two is a bit come and go, Sopoaga could be the dark horse. Watch the Blues v Highlanders and Brumbies v Hurricanes live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Friday from 6am. Catch both matches for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract. Also See: New Zealand Conference preview Australia Conference preview South Africa Conferences preview Super Rugby fixtures ' ' '