OC Register: Justin Bour’s 2 home runs help Angels climb above .500 at midpoint of season

[AngelsWin.com]

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  The Angels’ Justin Bour celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Reds at Angel Stadium. It was Bour’s second homer of the game. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Tanner Roark throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, runs to second as Tommy La Stella grounds out during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, takes a lead off from second during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Cincinnati Reds third baseman Nick Senzel can’t reach a ball hit for a solo home run by Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Bour during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Cincinnati Reds’ Yasiel Puig points to the sky before scoring after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Dustin Garneau, right, is forced out at second as Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jose Iglesias throws out Tommy La Stella at first during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, left, of Japan, talks with Cincinnati Reds first baseman Derek Dietrich after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim runs to first base after hitting a single during the eighth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 26, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Angels’ Justin Bour hits a three-run home run during the eighth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Reds at Angel Stadium. It was Bour’s second homer of the game. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Justin Bour #41 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim reacts after hitting a three-run homerun as umpire Pat Hoberg and Curt Casali #12 of the Cincinnati Reds look on during the eighth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 26, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Mike Trout #27 congratulates Justin Bour #41 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after his three-run homerun during the eighth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 26, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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ANAHEIM — Justin Bour has clearly figured something out since he returned to the majors.

Bour belted a pair of homers, including a three-run homer that broke open the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Since returning from a two-week stint monthlong stint in Triple-A, Bour has hit four homers in 24 plate appearances. He has seven hits in 23 at-bats.

Bour managed his two-homer game after not starting a game in a week. Albert Pujols started all three games over the weekend in St. Louis, and then on Tuesday night.

Bour answered Yasiel Puig’s fifth-inning homer with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

In the eighth, the Angels had just taken a 2-1 lead on David Fletcher’s two-out infield hit. Bour then blasted one into the right field seats, padding the lead to four runs.

He helped the Angels win their third straight and sixth in their past nine, getting to 41-40 at the halfway point of the season.

The Angels pitching plans also worked in this game.

Jaime Barría got the call for a spot start, and he delivered exactly what the Angels wanted. Barría worked five innings on 75 pitches and he allowed just one run, on a Yasiel Puig homer.

Barría was a revelation in the rotation as a 21-year-old last year, but this season he’s been bounced between Triple-A to the majors and he hasn’t fared too well in either spot.

The Angels certainly could use Barría in their rotation if he could pitch like he did last year, so this outing was encouraging.

Trevor Cahill followed Barría to the mound and provided some encouragement that he could be a productive member of the bullpen after getting demoted from the rotation.

Cahill pitched two scoreless innings, both times working around a leadoff hit.

Cam Bedrosian worked the eighth and Ty Buttrey worked the ninth.

Bour got the gatorade shower, and then dropped the mic on his performance tonight!@Angels win pic.twitter.com/K86h2O0LT2

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) June 27, 2019

Talk about running with the lead

Justin Bour CRUSHED that ball! @Angels pic.twitter.com/R8X83LH4Lt

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) June 27, 2019

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