Angels 1, Tigers 0
Dan Haren stole the spotlight from Justin Verlander with a two-hitter for his 100th career victory as the host Los Angeles Angels defeated the Detroit Tigers 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Erick Aybar had an RBI double and Howie Kendrick extended his hitting streak to 14 games for the Angels, who have won 15 of 20 after a sluggish start.
Haren (9-5) struck out nine and retired the last 15 hitters he faced en route to his fourth career shutout. The righthander outdueled Verlander (11-4), who had posted a 0.79 ERA while winning each of his last seven starts. He had won nine straight decisions and posted a 1.73 ERA in 12 starts since losing to Seattle on April 27.
The Tigers' ace was aiming to join New York’s CC Sabathia as the only 12-game winners in the majors, but his night ended when he was ejected with two outs in the eighth. Verlander, the American League strikeout leader, allowed one run, seven hits and struck out eight in 7 2/3 innings.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland was ejected for arguing in the seventh inning after second base umpire Joe West threw out the ball Verlander was using, and Angels designated hitter Bobby Abreu was ejected by home plate umpire Angel Campos in the first inning for arguing balls and strikes.