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WASHINGTON -- Heading toward the plate after the 500th homer of this career, Albert Pujols glanced ahead and saw a throng of Los Angeles Angels teammates waiting right there to greet him. He was pleased by the outpouring of support. He also had a message. "I was pretty emotional running the bases and when I ... looked at all these guys coming out, it was hard," Pujols said. "But I just told them, Weve got a game to win." Not a problem, especially with Pujols hitting like the Pujols of old. Continuing a strong stretch, the Angels first baseman became the first major leaguer to hit his 499th and 500th homers in the same game, driving in five runs Tuesday night to help Los Angeles beat the Washington Nationals 7-2. "I knew this year, it was going to happen, whether it was tonight, tomorrow, two months from now," Pujols said. "So my goal was just to prepare myself every day to try to help this organization win." The three-time NL MVP connected twice off right-hander Taylor Jordan (0-3) -- a three-run homer in the first inning and two-run drive in the fifth. Hes the 26th player in big league history to reach the milestone. Pujols also hit his 400th homer at Nationals Park. "I admire the man. I admire his ability and the way he goes about playing the game, and I have for some time," said Washington manager Matt Williams, who also played against Pujols. "I just wish hed do it against somebody else." Pujols is the first player to collect his 499th and 500th homers in the same game, according to STATS. About three months past his 34th birthday, hes also the third-youngest to get to 500; Alex Rodriguez and Jimmie Foxx were 32. Making a recent surge, Pujols has eight homers in the past 13 games. He leads the Angels with 19 RBIs. "Thats the Albert Im used to seeing," Angels outfielder Mike Trout said. "Full, healthy, 100 per cent healthy." The 500th homer went to left-centre field at Nationals Park, on an 89 mph pitch with the count at 1-2. The ball was grabbed -- and later given to Pujols -- by a man who identified himself as Thomas Sherrill, a 29-year-old Air Force staff sergeant from Pomona, Calif. "That pitch was supposed to be low and away," Jordan said, "and I guess I tried too hard to get it there." Pujols clapped his hands together a few strides before trotting home, then pointed both index fingers to the sky. Fans gave Pujols a partial standing ovation, and he acknowledged it by tipping his red batting helmet as he approached the dugout. After heading down the steps, he came back out for a curtain call. "Thats something you tell your kids when you get older. I dont know the next guy whos going to hit 500," said Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs (2-0), who gave up two runs in seven innings. "Nobody knows how to react. You dont see it too much." Teammates said that Pujols told shortstop Erick Aybar before the game he was going to hit two homers. "Alberts Albert. If he tells you something, hes going to do it," Trout said. "Im not surprised he said that, because Ive seen it before. Hes told me, Im going deep tonight." Jordan allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings. Washington entered the game with a majors-worst 22 errors and third baseman Anthony Rendon added two more. After a couple of down-for-him years with the Angels following 11 transcendent seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pujols appears ready to reclaim his spot among the games elite hitters. He homered Friday and Saturday at Detroit to lift his total to 498, and now hes reached the round number of 500 -- a total that remains hallowed despite losing lustre lately because so many players surpassed it. Of the 26 members of the 500-homer club, 11 reached the mark in the last 15 years, according to STATS. Gary Sheffield was the previous player to do it, hitting No. 500 in April 2009. "You dont see 500, obviously, every night," Pujols said. "Its been a great career." The Cardinals selected him in the 13th round of the 1999 draft, with the 402nd overall selection -- a steal if ever there was one. Pujols won a batting title in 2003, National League MVP awards in 2005, 2008 and 2009, and World Series titles with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011. Pujols was the first player to hit 30 homers in each of his first 12 seasons and the second -- after Al Simmons in 1924-34 -- to reach 100 RBIs in each of his first 10. A nine-time All-Star, Pujols hit 455 homers with the Cardinals. After his decade-plus of excellence in St. Louis, Pujols signed a 10-year deal worth $240 million with the Angels following the 2011 season. Almost immediately, the 6-foot-3 slugger appeared to be slowing down. He hit .285 with 30 homers in 2012 -- impressive numbers for most players, but career lows at that point for Pujols. Things got even worse in 2013. Injuries limited Pujols to 99 games, and he was sidelined from July 26 on. He ended up hitting .258 with 17 homers and 64 RBIs. But not surprisingly, Pujols bat did not stay quiet for long. Sitting at a news conference with the balls he hit over the fence Tuesday resting near his left elbow, Pujols smiled as he said: "Now weve got to start on the next milestone, I guess." NOTES: Washington RHP Doug Fister threw 44 pitches in three innings at extended spring training in Florida on Tuesday. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia on Pujols defence this season: "Hes played first base at the Gold Glove-caliber that you would expect. Well have to monitor it; if he needs a day to refresh, well give it to him." China Autographed Jerseys . 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Ward appeared in court Friday on misdemeanour charges that he threw a glass mug at a bartender at a Denver strip club.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - There are few, if any, reasons to watch Tennessee and Jacksonville on Thursday night.Not even fantasy owners could have much interest in this prime-time matchup.Its two 2-12 teams from the AFC South that are playing out the string. The Titans have lost eight consecutive games and are down to third-string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who is making his eighth career start.The Jaguars have dropped six of seven, have scored two offensive touchdowns in the past four games and are without their top rusher, top receiver and top tackler.So expectations should be low.Theres not a lot to hang our hat on from this season, but its a Thursday night game, said Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt, whose team is looking to sweep Jacksonville for the just second time in 11 years.National games always seem to add a little more zest to it. I dont know if its really sweeping a division opponent that makes that much as it is an opportunity to get a win.The Jaguars, meanwhile, are favourites for the first time since Sept. 30, 2012. Since losing 27-10 to Cincinnati as a 1 1/2-point favourite, Jacksonville had been underdogs for 42 consecutive games.Weve had plenty of opportunities to win a lot of games, Jaguars defensive tackle SenDerrick Marks said. Its like we have to learn how to finish. ... Once we build that mindset and grow the guys, I really feel like it will be that much better. Weve had plenty of opportunities to pull out a victory in all of these games and we just fell short. I think we have that ability to change that within no time.Getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft should help either team, and the Thursday nights loser would move closer to securing the top pick.For Tennessee, it could mean having its pick between Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and Florida States Jameis Winston.Former first-round draft pick Jake Locker is a free agent, and Whisenhunt bristled earlier this week when asked whether he was committed to Zach Mettenberger.I dont know where you heard that, Whisenhunt said. Thats something that we said wed discuss. Thats not a question that we want to discuss in-season. Thats something wed go through after the season is over and go back and look at all of the snaps and go from there.For Jaccksonville, landing the top draft spot would leave the rebuilding franchise in position to possibly trade down and get more picks.ddddddddddddNeither team is thinking about that right now — at least not publicly. They focused on winning, regardless of how less-than-ideal the matchup might appear.A lot of people will turn the TV on Thursday night football and theres nothing else to watch, Titans receiver Kendall Wright said. Were going to try to give them a show either way.Here are some things to know about the Titans and Jaguars:___BORTLES READY? The Jaguars are leaning toward playing injured quarterback Blake Bortles. The rookie sprained his right foot Sunday at Baltimore and has been limited during light practices this week. He will go through pregame mobility tests before his status is determined.MARKS MARK: Jaguars defensive tackle SenDerrick Marks has extra incentive against his former team. Marks needs half a sack to trigger a $600,000 bonus in his contract. Marks has 7 1/2 sacks, an impressive number for an interior lineman playing on a team that rarely has a lead. I wont abandon the scheme just to be selfish and get something for me, said Marks, who spent four seasons with the Titans.STILL LOOKING FOR 100: The Titans have yet to have a 100-yard rusher this season, and only one receiver had topped the century mark in 2014. Kendall Wright had 132 yards receiving in a Nov. 30 loss at Houston, then he broke a bone in his right hand in practice. That has kept him out of the past two games. The Titans are hoping Wright can return against the Jaguars, with Whisenhunt saying its a matter of pain tolerance.AT LEAST THERES WALKER: Titans tight end Delanie Walker has been the bright spot on offence, and he already has set the franchise record for yards receiving in a season (793). He also is the only player on the roster to top 100 yards receiving in two separate games, and he had 93 in last weeks loss to the Jets. That has made him a big target for defences.MULARKEYS RETURN: Former Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey will return to EverBank Field for the first time since getting fired after the 2012 season. Mularkey sat out last year before joining the Titans as tight ends coach.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '