Hunter, Aybar lead Angels to series win over Tigers, 6-2

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Hunter, Aybar lead Angels to series win over Tigers, 6-2
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Game played April 27, 2008
DETROIT, Mich. – Behind two-hit and three-RBI games from Torii Hunter and Erick Aybar, the Los Angeles Angels beat Detroit, 6-2, to secure the series win. Jered Weaver picked up the win, holding the vaunted Tigers offense to two runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

The Angels drew first blood against Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander in the fourth inning. With two down, Casey Kotchman singled off Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera’s glove, then came around to score on Hunter’s triple off the right-field wall for a 1-0 advantage.

In the fifth, Los Angeles scored again. Maicer Izturis led off with a single to left field, took second on a Verlander balk and scored on Aybar’s sacrifice fly, giving the Angels a 2-0 lead.

The Angels seemed to break the game open in the sixth frame, batting around and chasing Verlander. Gary Matthews Jr. led off with a walk. Vladimir Guerrero then singled sharply to right and took second on an error on Detroit’s Carlos Guillen, setting the table for Hunter, who doubled down the left-field line. Matthews and Guerrero scored on the play. Aybar followed with a single to left, scoring Hunter and Garret Anderson, who had reached on an intentional walk. With six innings in the books, the Angels led, 6-0.

The Tigers finally got on the board in the seventh. Magglio Ordonez singled and scored on an Edgar Renteria sac fly. Ivan Rodriguez’s double off the wall in right-center scored Guillen, who had singled, for the 6-2 final margin.

For Los Angeles, Kotchman also registered two hits. On the mound, Weaver (2-3) got the win, recording four walks and five strikeouts. Justin Speier and Scot Shields pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, yielding one hit and no runs.

Detroit was led at the plate by Ordonez, who was 2-for-2 in Detroit’s five-hit output. Verlander (1-4) went 5 2/3 frames, allowing seven hits and six runs, with four walks and three punchouts. Zach Miner and Jason Grilli pitched the last 3 1/3 innings, allowing a hit and zero runs.

The 16-10 Angels, who have won seven of 10, take on division rival and AL West co-leader Oakland Monday night, with Jon Garland slated to work. Detroit, now 11-15, will play in the Bronx against the Yankees Tuesday night, with Kenny Rogers on the hill. The Tigers are fifth in the AL Central, four games back of the division-leading White Sox.

Video credit- ESPN