Marte, Skaggs lead Angels over Tigers
DETROIT -- Jefry Marte tormented his old teammates with a two-run home run plus a sacrifice fly while Tyler Skaggs and three relievers combined on a four-hit shutout Sunday to help the Los Angeles Angels knock off the Detroit Tigers, 5-0, for the second game in a row.
Marte came up after Andrelton Simmons singled to open the fifth inning and hit a 1-2 fastball that was right down the middle for his 10th home run of the season. It broke a scoreless tie and was Marte's second home run and third hit in four at-bats against Anibal Sanchez.
Marte, who debuted with Detroit last season but was traded to Los Angeles between seasons, hit his sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 4-0. The Tigers liked his power but he played the infield corners held down by Miguel Cabrera and Nick Castrellanos.
Sanchez (7-13) allowed three straight singles to open the sixth before Simmons and Marte hit sacrifice flies to center and Nick Buss shot an RBI double down the first base line. Sanchez turned in four scoreless innings on two hits before the fifth. He gave up eight hits in 5 2/3 innings with no walks and two strikeouts.
Skaggs (2-3) gave up a single plus a double to Cabrera but no hits to anybody else in his six innings. He struck out six, hit one and walked two.
Mike Morin pitched the seventh, Jose Valdez, worked the eighth and Deolis Guerra the ninth as Detroit was shut out for the ninth time this season.
The Tigers' best scoring chance was when Cabrera doubled to open the fourth and moved up on a fly ball to deep center. But J.D. Martinez struck out on a high fastball and Casey McGehee hit into a force play following a walk to end the threat.
NOTES: 1B Miguel Cabrera needs just one RBI to tie former SS Alan Trammell for 10th on the Tigers' all-time list at 1,003. ... Angels RHP Fernando Salas will get a look as the closer the rest of the season, manager Mike Scioscia said. ... Detroit manager Brad Ausmus will reset his rotation following Thursday's off day but hasn't said just how it will go. ... Saturday's rotation switch worked out, Scioscia said, so LHP Brett Oberholtzer will remain a starter and RHP Jhoulys Chacin will continue working out of the bullpen.