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Kendrick homers twice as Angels batter Tigers

Apr 19, 2014 - 4:22 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Howie Kendrick went 3-for-5 with a pair of two-run homers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim cruised past the Detroit Tigers, 11-6, in the opener of a three-game series.

Albert Pujols added a three-run homer for the Angels, who had 10 extra-base hits. Mike Trout had a pair of doubles and two RBI.

Los Angeles starter Jered Weaver (1-2) picked up his first win of the season after giving up one run on three hits over six innings. He had three strikeouts and three walks.

Ian Kinsler had three hits and knocked in two runs for the Tigers, who dropped all six of their meetings with the Angels last season. Torii Hunter, Nick Castellanos, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez added an RBI apiece.

Detroit starter Drew Smyly (1-1), making his first start of the season, gave up four runs on six hits over three innings. Luke Putkonen allowed seven runs on five hits over two-plus frames.

"I haven't thrown that many pitches in a while," Smyly said.

The Angels never looked back after scoring a pair of runs in the second inning. Chris Iannetta walked and Erick Aybar singled to put men on the corners. Iannetta crossed the plate when J.B. Shuck grounded into a fielder's choice, and Ian Stewart added an RBI triple to right-center field.

Los Angeles tacked on two more runs in the third on Kendrick's homer. Pujols led off with a double and scored on Kendrick's blast to right.

The Tigers got one run back in the bottom half of the frame. Rajai Davis reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second and raced home on Hunter's single to center.

The Angels tacked on four more runs in the fourth. Stewart doubled and Collin Cowgill was hit by a pitch. Both runners scored on Trout's double to left. Two batters later, Kendrick recorded his second homer of the night, with the help of a replay review, to make it 8-1.

"Our guys did a great job early with some patience," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The big lead was good."

Pujols' homer in the sixth made it a 10-run margin.

But the Tigers scored five runs off Josh Wall in the seventh. Wall, who was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game, quickly loaded the bases. Kinsler hit a two-run single and Castellanos added an RBI single. Kevin Jepsen took over on the mound and gave up run-scoring groundouts to Cabrera and Martinez.

Michael Kohn tossed a scoreless eighth and Ernesto Frieri pitched a spotless ninth to secure the victory for the Angels.

Game Notes

The Angels had 13 hits, compared to 11 for the Tigers ... Detroit optioned outfielder Tyler Collins to Triple-A Toledo and recalled pitcher Justin Miller from Toledo. Miller pitched two scoreless innings on Friday ... Angels third baseman David Freese was scratched due to tightness in his right quad ... Los Angeles started a nine-game road trip on Friday ... Weaver improved to 4-4 lifetime against the Tigers.