The Los Angeles Angels saw their bats come alive against the Detroit Tigers after a difficult weekend that saw them score just five runs in three games. Largely thanks to Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, the Angels scored 19 runs in three games, taking two of three from the Tigers.
This series easily could have been a sweep if not for a late-game collapse by Jose Quijada in Wednesday’s finale. Just about everything went right for L.A. over the course of the three games.
Trout and Ohtani combined for six home runs, the three starting pitchers gave up just three earned runs in 17.2 combined innings, and Magneuris Sierra even hit a walk-off bunt single. It added another series of solid play to the Angels recent memory, as they are 8-4 in their last 12 games.
Below, we break down all three games of this series. Meanwhile, the Halos get to enjoy an off day before embarking on a six-game road trip to face the Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians.
Game 1: Angels def. Tigers 10-0
The Angels superstar duo flexed their muscle in the series opener, combining to go 6-for-9 with three home runs, four RBIs, two doubles, and six runs scored. They were responsible — in some fashion — for seven of the 10 Angels runs scored.
But on an equally impressive note, Jose Suarez had one of the best outings of his young career. He tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Tigers starter Tyler Alexander gave up six earned runs on 10 hits, while the Angels tied the New York Mets for the MLB lead for shutout victories. It was their 17th on the season, meaning 28.3% of their wins have been of that variety.
Game 2: Angels def. Tigers 5-4
When Trout, Jo Adell, and Mike Ford homered in the first two innings off of Eduardo Rodriguez, it looked like another Angels blowout win could be in store. However, the offense quieted after the early fireworks, and the Tigers managed to slowly creep back in.
Mike Mayers allowed two runs in 5.2 innings, via RBIs from Spencer Torkelson and Javier Baez, to make it 3-2. But in the eighth inning, Baez tied things up with an RBI off of Quijada, forcing the game into extra innings.
Baez once again came through for the Tigers with an RBI single in the top of the 10th. But in the bottom half of the frame, Taylor Ward scored on a throwing error from Baez, Andrew Velazquez reached second base on an infield hit, and Sierra ultimately brought him home with a walk-off bunt single.
Game 3: Tigers def. Angels 5-4
Patrick Sandoval did not have his cleanest start on Wednesday, giving up only one run, but on six hits and a walk in 5.0 innings. However, when he exited the game, the Angels held a 3-1 lead. Torkelson homered for the Tigers lone run, while a Matt Thaiss two-run shot and a Trout solo homer gave the Angels their total.
Eric Haase would homer and Willi Castro would put together a run-scoring at-bat to tie the game at three, following a similar game script from the night before. Ohtani broke that script with a solo home run of his own in the seventh inning.
But when Quijada went to the mound for the save opportunity, he allowed back-to-back home runs to the bottom of the Tigers order — Kerry Carpenter and Ryan Kreidler — to give them a 5-4 lead.
The Angels would not be able to score in the bottom of the ninth, as the Tigers stole their lone victory of the series.