ANAHEIM, California – Kevin Pillar’s single with one out in the 10th inning drove in Taylor Ward and the Los Angeles Angels extended their winning streak to six, rallying for a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.
“Belief. You can feel the energy shifting where maybe before we talked about going out and winning and hoping that we win. I think we’re starting to expect that every time we step onto the field,” said Pillar, who had the fourth hit of his career and the first since 2018.
With Ward the automatic runner in the 10th, Luis Guillorme made a sacrifice to move Ward to third. Detroit decided to have five infielders with Pilar active and the outfielders playing left center and right center. Pillar, who entered as designated hitter in the seventh inning, hit a looping single to left field off Jason Foley (2-2) for the Angels’ second win of the season.
“The 10th inning was perfect for us. We had a guy who could hit and a guy who had been in these situations before,” coach Ron Washington said.
Tigers coach AJ Hinch said with the five-man infield they tried to play to Pillar’s pull side, but he managed to get under the sinker.
“We played a good game. We didn’t run one or two enough races to win. It’s hard to start the journey this way,” Hinch said.
The Angels trailed 5-2 before coming back. Ward hit a two-run double in the seventh inning and Logan O’Hoppe tied it with a solo shot to center to lead off the eighth. It was the second night in a row that the Angels catcher scored in the eighth inning.
“We had some opportunities when we didn’t put the ball in play, but we continued to work every inning. Then Taylor made a big play to get us back in the game,” Washington said.
Jake Rogers hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning and Reese Olson had a season-high nine strikeouts for Detroit, which dropped five of six.
Rogers also had a sacrifice in the fourth inning as he had his second three-RBI game of the season.
The Angels had two defensive gems in the last two innings. O’Hoppe also made an off-balance throw and Guillorme made a leap and grabbed it at second base to strip Riley Greene on a stolen base attempt in the ninth inning. Zach Neto also made a nice play on a sharp grounder by Colt Keith to end the 10th.
Ben Joyce (1-0) retired the Tigers in order in the 10th for the win.
Detroit got its first three runners in the first, but only managed one run when Wenceel Pérez scored on Keith’s fielder’s choice.
The Angels took the lead with a pair in the third. Nolan Schanuel came home after Olson threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded and Willie Calhoun’s grounder hit Luis Rengifo.
Detroit responded with two in the fourth. Keith scored on Zach McKinstry’s fielder’s choice and Rogers’ sacrifice fly brought McKinstry home.
Rogers extended the Tigers’ lead to 5-2 in the sixth with a two-run shot to left center. At 443 feet, it was the longest home run of his career.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: SS Javier Báez (lumbar spine inflammation) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Monday at Triple-A Toledo.
Angels: CF Mike Trout (left knee) is hopeful for a late July return … 3B Anthony Rendon (strained left hamstring) is expected to face live pitching next week.
NEXT
Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson (7-7), who is eighth in the majors with a 2.63 ERA, faces Detroit RHP Casey Mize (1-6, 4.54 ERA), who is 0-6 in his last 11 matches.
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