Angels pitcher Jered Weaver moves into the fast lane

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Jered Weaver’s fastball is rarely clocked over 92 mph, but with a runner on third and no outs in the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, the Angels right-hander struck out Johnny Damon, Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera, the latter two with fastballs that were clocked at 95 and 94 mph on the Comerica Park speed gun.

So, who was that flame thrower on the mound for the Angels?

‘It’s old school, I guess,’ said Weaver, the former Cal State Long Beach star. ‘I used to have that in me; it’s in there somewhere. The last couple of years, I haven’t felt as good, but I’ve been putting in a lot of work, and it’s coming along. I’m feeling good.’

Weaver, who tired in the fifth inning, when he gave up four runs in the 5-1 loss to the Tigers, said the extra oomph on his fastball wasn’t a matter of him reaching back for something more, as Detroit ace Justin Verlander often does. He thinks he might be able to work with a little more velocity all season.

‘My body is starting to feel like it did early in my career, and hopefully I can maintain that for 30 more starts,’ Weaver said. ‘It’s a matter of feeling good. Sometimes I’ll have 95 mph, sometimes I’ll have 92 or 90 mph. Sometimes you feel better.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Detroit