Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run homer and the host Detroit Tigers notched their season-best sixth straight victory by edging the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Wednesday.
Kerry Carpenter drove in the other Detroit run as the Tigers moved two games above .500 for the first time since May 7.
Kenta Maeda (3-6) gave up two runs, both unearned, and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings of relief to collect the win. He yielded four hits and two walks. Jason Foley got the last three outs for his 19th save and second in as many nights.
Mickey Moniak hit a two-run homer for Los Angeles, which has lost seven straight. Griffin Canning (4-12) gave up all three runs in five innings. He surrendered five hits and four walks while striking out four.
The series opener on Tuesday was delayed for nearly three hours by inclement weather. The start of the Wednesday contest was held up for nearly two hours as storms passed through the Detroit area.
The Tigers’ opener, Mason Englert, only allowed two baserunners in two shutout innings.
Detroit took the lead in the bottom of the second. Jace Jung drew a one-out walk before Torkelson blasted his seventh homer to left-center field.
Maeda entered in the third and immediately gave up back-to-back singles. An inning-ending double play bailed him out.
Detroit extended its lead to 3-0 in the third. Jake Rogers drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Rogers went to third on a Riley Greene groundout before Carpenter lined an RBI single to right.
The Tigers had an opportunity to extend their lead in the fourth, loading the bases on two singles and a walk. Canning escaped that jam by striking out Greene.
A two-out throwing error by Tigers shortstop Trey Sweeney allowed Logan O’Hoppe to reach base in the sixth. Moniak followed with his ninth homer, a blast to right-center field.
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon hit a two-out double in the eighth. He was left stranded when Beau Brieske struck out O’Hoppe.
Foley pitched a clean ninth. Moniak swung at his first pitch and grounded out. Foley then struck out pinch hitter Matt Thaiss and Jo Adell to finish the game.
–Field Level Media