Hao-Yu Lee came through with a clutch two-run double in the ninth inning, and the Detroit Tigers completed a late comeback to beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Friday night.
Lee’s two-out hit erased a one-run deficit and capped another comeback victory for a Detroit club that has surged over the past two weeks. Reliever Keider Montero followed by stranding the tying and go-ahead runners in the bottom of the ninth to seal the Tigers’ 10th victory in their last 13 games.
The Angels received another outstanding start from Reid Detmers but were unable to protect a slim lead, falling for the 11th time in their last 13 contests.
Angels Strike Early
Los Angeles wasted little time creating scoring opportunities.
Zach Neto opened the first inning with a single before two walks loaded the bases with no outs. Josh Lowe then hit a ground ball to second that allowed Neto to score, giving the Angels a 1-0 advantage.
That would prove to be the only run the Angels could manufacture despite another impressive effort from their pitching staff.
Detroit starter Troy Melton settled in after the opening inning. The 25-year-old right-hander, making his first major league appearance at Angel Stadium after starring at nearby Anaheim Canyon High School, allowed just one run on four hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Melton struck out nine and walked four, keeping the Tigers within striking distance throughout the evening.
Detmers Shines on the Mound
Detmers continued his strong stretch with one of his best outings of the season.
The left-hander threw six scoreless innings after allowing the first-inning run, giving up only four hits while striking out seven without issuing a walk.
He mixed a mid-90s fastball with a sharp slider and a slow curveball to keep Detroit’s hitters off balance. His performance came as contenders around the league continue to monitor the Angels’ rotation ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
After Detmers exited, Ryan Zeferjahn retired all three batters he faced in the seventh inning before Sam Bachman struck out three of four hitters during a scoreless eighth.
The Angels carried their 1-0 lead into the ninth with the bullpen appearing to be in complete control.
Tigers Break Through Late
Detroit finally found its opportunity in the ninth inning against Angels reliever Kirby Yates.
Yates hit the leadoff batter before issuing a one-out walk, putting two runners aboard. After Kerry Carpenter flew out for the second out, Lee stepped to the plate with the Tigers down to their final out.
Lee lined a double into the outfield, bringing home both runners and giving Detroit its first lead of the game at 2-1.
The clutch hit spoiled an otherwise outstanding night for the Angels’ pitching staff and handed Yates his fifth loss of the season.
Montero and Defense Finish the Job
The Angels threatened immediately in the bottom of the ninth.
With runners aboard, Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle made one of the game’s biggest defensive plays. He leaped behind third base to snag Oswald Peraza’s high chopper before making a strong throw across the diamond for the second out.
Montero then retired Denzer Guzman on a ground ball with runners on second and third to end the game.
The right-hander earned the victory after throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. He allowed the Tigers to stay within one run before the offense finally broke through in the ninth, striking out five batters during his outing.
Despite collecting only two runs, Detroit’s timely hitting and strong relief work were enough to continue its recent surge, while the Angels were left to wonder how another strong performance from Detmers slipped away.
Earlier in the day, the Angels also announced the signing of first-round draft pick Jared Grindlinger, a two-way standout from nearby Huntington Beach High School who will begin his professional career as an outfielder.
Up Next
The series continues Saturday night with Detroit sending left-hander Tarik Skubal, who enters with a 5-5 record and a 3.09 ERA, to face Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who is 3-2 with a 7.55 ERA.
