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Tigers snap losing streak against Angels

Apr 20, 2014 - 12:14 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Max Scherzer tossed seven solid innings and the Detroit Tigers snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with a 5-2 victory on Saturday.

Scherzer (1-1) allowed just one run on three hits while striking out nine for the Tigers, who beat the Angels for the first time since Aug. 26, 2012.

"I can't say enough about how important that start was -- not only for us as a team, but just for the bullpen," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We had a bunch of guys out there who really could use a day off."

Nick Castellanos and Victor Martinez homered for Detroit, which bounced back from an 11-6 loss in the opener of this three-game series on Friday. Austin Jackson and Ian Kinsler each knocked in a run.

Albert Pujols recorded the 498th homer of his career for the Angels, who also got a homer from J.B. Shuck.

Los Angeles starter C.J. Wilson (2-2) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with three walks over five innings. He lost on the road for the first time since last June 8 at Boston in the second contest of a doubleheader.

"It's pretty easy to see I was inconsistent today," Wilson said.

Shuck led off the game with a homer to right, but Scherzer struck out the next three Los Angeles hitters.

The Tigers took the lead for good in the second on Castellanos' homer. Jackson led off with a single and scored on Castellanos' blast to left.

Detroit tacked on another run in the third. Miguel Cabrera reached first on right fielder Brennan Boesch's fielding error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third when Torii Hunter flied out to center. Cabrera was initially called out at third while tagging up. The play was reviewed and Cabrera was ruled safe, and he easily scored on Jackson's sacrifice fly to right.

A call was overturned in favor of the Angels in the top of the fourth. Ian Stewart was originally called out while trying to steal second. The call was reversed and Los Angeles had runners on second and third with two outs. Erick Aybar struck out swinging to end the inning.

Martinez's solo homer in the fifth made it 4-1 Detroit.

The Tigers tacked on an insurance run in the eighth. With Josh Wall on the mound, Bryan Holaday reached base on a bunt single and Andrew Romine and Rajai Davis walked to load the bases. Kinsler's sacrifice fly made it 5-1.

Pujols homered off Joe Nathan in the ninth.

Game Notes

Angels third baseman David Freese missed his second straight game due to tightness in his right quad ... Scherzer improved to 3-1 lifetime against the Angels ... Wilson entered Saturday's game with a 10-0 record over his previous 13 road starts ... Los Angeles outfielder Mike Trout struck out four times for the first time in his career.