Fulmer, Rodriguez pitch Tigers to shutout win over Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Rookie Michael Fulmer and closer Francisco Rodriguez combined on a two-hit shutout to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night in front of 35,053 at Angel Stadium.
Fulmer (5-1) had a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings before C.J. Cron lined a single into right field. The right-hander permitted just four baserunners on two hits and two walks while amassing eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. Rodriguez earned his 15th save.
Nick Castellanos collected three of the Tigers' 11 hits, with Victor Martinez and Jose Iglesias each adding two, as Detroit broke a four-game losing streak.
Fulmer needed just 29 pitches to retire the first 10 Angels before walking Kole Calhoun with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. The right-hander then retired the next 10 batters before Cron ended the no-hitter by lining a 98 mph fastball into right field for a single.
But the Angels chased Fulmer when they put the tying runs in scoring position with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Carlos Perez walked with one out, then moved to third base with two out on Gregorio Petit's ground-rule double down the left-field line.
Rodriguez replaced Fulmer and defused the threat by making Johnny Giavotella ground out to Castellanos at third base.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning against right-hander Matt Shoemaker. Jose Iglesias doubled down the left-field line with one out and came home on Ian Kinsler's single to left-center field.
In the sixth, Detroit loaded the bases with one out yet emerged with just one run. Victor Martinez hit a ground-rule double down the right-field line, then Castellanos lined a single to center field to send Martinez to third. After Justin Upton popped out, Cameron Maybin hit an infield single down the third-base line.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia brought Martinez home when he lined a single to center field. But Shoemaker ended the threat by making Iglesias hit into a double play.
The Tigers scored their final run in the ninth. Petit, the Angels' shortstop, bobbled Kinsler's ground ball with the bases loaded for an error that allowed Saltalamacchia to come home.
Shoemaker (3-6) issued no walks for the third consecutive start and collected eight strikeouts in seven innings. But Shoemaker allowed a season-high 10 hits.
NOTES: Wednesday marked the 41st anniversary of Nolan Ryan's fourth no-hitter and his final one for the Angels. Ryan defeated the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 for his 100th career victory. ... Detroit placed RHP Warwick Saupold on the disabled list, purchased RHP Bobby Parnell from Triple-A Toledo and designated RHP Jose Valdez for assignment. Saupold strained his right groin while covering first base in the sixth inning of Tuesday night's 11-9 loss. ... Tigers RHP Shane Greene allowed one run and five hits in 4 2/3 innings for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday night. ... Los Angeles placed INF Cliff Pennington on the disabled list, optioned LHP Chris Jones to Triple-A Salt Lake and purchased INF Brendan Ryan and RHP Javy Guerra from Salt Lake. ... Angels 3B Yunel Escobar was not in the lineup for the third consecutive game after suffering a bruised left wrist on Sunday against the Houston Astros. ... Angels CF Mike Trout leads American League outfielders in All-Star balloting with 934,137 votes.