Angels 12, Tigers 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Designated hitter Albert Pujols, left fielder Matt Joyce and catcher Chris Iannetta combined for three home runs and eight RBIs, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 12-2 rout of the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night at Angel Stadium.
Los Angeles broke a two-game losing streak, while Detroit saw its two-game winning streak end.
Pujols hit his 529th career home run and ninth of the year, a two-run drive, in the bottom of the first inning. Joyce added his second in two games and third of the season, a solo drive, in the second. Iannetta concluded the Angels' scoring with a grand slam in the seventh, his third homer of the season.
Left-hander C.J. Wilson (3-3) was the main beneficiary of the offensive surge. Wilson conceded one run and a career-low two hits in six innings. He struck out seven, walked five, hit one and generated seven groundouts while throwing 107 pitches.
The Angels took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against right-hander Buck Farmer, making his season debut and just the third start of his major league career after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo.
Shortstop Erick Aybar led off by lining a single into right field. One out later, Pujols propelled Farmer's 82 mph sinker into the stands down the left field line for a homer.
Joyce extended the margin to 3-0 an inning later with a shot into the right field bleachers.
The Tigers broke the shutout in the third after loading the bases with two outs against Wilson. Catcher James McCann singled but was forced out on shortstop Jose Iglesias' fielder's choice grounder. Designated hitter Rajai Davis and second baseman Ian Kinsler walked with two outs, loading the bases.
Wilson hit first baseman Miguel Cabrera on the right foot to force home Iglesias, but he defused the threat by inducing left fielder Yoenis Cespedes to take a called third strike, a 91 mph fastball.
Los Angeles responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella lined a triple down the left field line and scored on Aybar's squeeze bunt. Aybar left the game with a tight left hamstring and was replaced at shortstop by Taylor Featherston in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Angels turned three hits, a walk, a fielder's choice, a groundout and a wild pitch into three runs. Joyce singled to bring Pujols home before being replaced by pinch runner Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Third baseman David Freese scored on first baseman Grant Green's groundout, and Nieuwenhuis came home on a wild pitch.
Farmer (0-1) induced nine groundouts in his five-plus innings and retired 10 successive batters between the second and fifth innings. However, the right-hander allowed seven runs and nine hits, including two home runs, while walking one and striking out one.
NOTES: Detroit SS Jose Iglesias returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous four games with a bruised bone in his left knee. ... The Tigers optioned INF Dixon Machado to Triple-A Toledo to make room for RHP Buck Farmer, who was recalled from Toledo to start Thursday night's game. Machado got his first major league hit Wednesday. ... Los Angeles OF Collin Cowgill went on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right wrist. ... The Angels recalled OF Alfredo Marte from Triple-A Salt Lake and activated OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis before the game. Nieuwenhuis came from the New York Mets on Wednesday for cash considerations. Los Angeles designated 1B/DH Marc Krauss for assignment after he batted .143 with one home run and five RBIs in 11 games.