Advertisement

Tigers rally for three runs in seventh inning for 5-4 win over Angels

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run seventh inning for the Detroit Tigers, who avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Angels on Wednesday.

With Detroit trailing, 3-2, Austin Jackson led off the top of the seventh with a walk off Angels reliever Hisanori Takahashi. Ramon Santiago bunted Jackson to second, and Andy Dirks hit a run-scoring single to right to make it 3-3.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia then summoned right-hander Michael Kohn to face Cabrera, who drove his 18th homer of the season over the wall in left-center for a 5-3 Tigers lead.

Mark Trumbo’s solo home run to left-center, his team-leading 14th of the season, pulled the Angels to within 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh and knocked Detroit starter Brad Penny out of the game.

But David Purcey got the final two outs of the seventh, Joaquin Benoit threw a scoreless eighth, and closer Jose Valverde retired the side in order in the ninth for his 21st save.

The Angels rocked Penny for three runs and four hits in the first inning, Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu sparking the rally with singles, Vernon Wells hitting a run-scoring double to left and Howie Kendrick hitting a two-run single to center.

But they managed only one more hit — Hunter’s leadoff single in the third — off Penny before Trumbo’s homer in the seventh.

Advertisement

The Tigers took advantage of Don Kelly’s leadoff single, third baseman Alberto Callaspo’s throwing error and a Tyler Chatwood walk to score two unearned runs in the third on Victor Martinez’s bases-loaded double to right.

Detroit threatened again in the fourth when Chatwood issued a pair of two-out walks and Santiago singled to left.

But Abreu, starting in left field because of Wells’ minor ankle injury, charged and made a strong one-hop throw to the plate to nail Kelly and preserve the Angels’ 3-2 lead.

RELATED:

Dan Haren joins Mike Witt and John Lackey in elite company

Wells, Aybar nursing minor injuries; Wells to DH, Aybar out

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Advertisement