Angels 2, Tigers 0
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Hector Santiago allowed just three singles over 7 1/3 scoreless innings, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
Santiago did need some help from his bullpen, and got it. Huston Street entered the game in the eighth inning with two outs and the bases loaded, but struck out left fielder Yoenis Cespedes to end the inning Street then pitched a scoreless ninth to finish it off for his 15th save.
It marked the seventh time in 10 starts this season that Santiago yielded one earned run or less, but the first time he pitched into the eighth inning.
The key for Santiago (4-3) was keeping his pitch count down -- he has made at least 100 pitches in nine of this 10 starts, but lasted at least seven innings just three times, including Friday.
He made 112 pitches, striking out seven and walking three.
The Angels didn't do much with Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez, but it was enough. Their first run came home on what should have been an inning-ending double play ball, but Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler booted it for an error, allowing a run to score.
The Angels' second run came on first baseman Albert Pujols' solo homer in the sixth, his 10th of the season. On a 3-1 count, Pujols took a called strike that appeared low and away, drawing the ire of Pujols and manager Mike Scioscia in the dugout. It turned out to be a break for the Angels, as Pujols drilled the full-count pitch into the Tigers' bullpen beyond the left-field fence.
Pujols finished with three hits and scored both Angels runs.
It was a tough-luck outing for Sanchez (3-6), who pitched well enough to win, but didn't. Sanchez gave up two runs on six hits and two walks, and struck out nine to match a season-high.
The Tigers never put up a serious scoring threat until the eighth. Santiago came out after giving up a one-out single to shortstop Jose Iglesias, handing the ball to right-hander Cam Bedrosian.
Bedrosian gave up a single to center fielder Rajai Davis, then got second baseman Ian Kinsler on a grounder to first.
With two out and first base open, the Bedrosian intentionally walked first baseman Miguel Cabrera, loading the bases for Cespedes.
That's when Angels manager Mike Scioscia summoned Street, who needed four pitches to strike out Cespedes and end the threat.
Neither team had a hit until Angels left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled with one out in the third inning off Sanchez. Nieuwenhuis was stranded, but the Angels got something going in the fourth inning.
In all, Los Angeles had three hits and a walk, and the Tigers committed an error. But the Angels only managed one run. Center fielder Mike Trout led off the inning but was thrown out trying to steal.
Pujols hit a line drive into the left field corner but was held to a single. The Angels had the bases loaded with one out when left fielder Matt Joyce hit a grounder to Ian Kinsler, but instead of an inning-ending double play, Kinsler booted the ball for an error, allowing Pujols to score.
It was the Angels' only run of the inning because catcher Chris Iannetta followed by hitting into a 6-4-3 double play.
Santiago, meanwhile, was sharp. The Tigers didn't get their first hit until J.D. Martinez singled to lead off the fifth inning. Martinez, though, was stranded and the Angels maintained a 1-0 lead through five innings.
NOTES: Angels SS Erick Aybar was not in the starting lineup for the first time all season because of a sore left hamstring. Aybar hurt the hamstring running out a bunt in Thursday's game, but is hoping to be back in the lineup Saturday. He plans to run Saturday before the game to test it out. ... With Aybar out of the lineup, Angels 2B Johnny Giavotella got his first start of the season in the leadoff spot. INF Taylor Featherston started at shortstop. ... Tigers RHP Al Alburquerque entered the game with a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 13, covering his last 12 appearances. ... Tigers C James McCann went into the game having hit safely in 15 of 22 games, batting .333 (26-for-78) along the way. With a .290 average, he ranked second among all American League rookies (minimum 75 at-bats).