Angels’ skid reaches seven with another loss to Tigers

DETROIT â€”  Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run home run in the second inning, and Kerry Carpenter added an RBI single in the third as the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to six games with a 3-2 victory over the Angels on Wednesday night.

“We’re finding different ways to win,� Torkelson said. “We’re a versatile team. One night it might be the pitching staff, another night we get a couple bloopers to fall and some times it is a blast.�

The teams were forced to wait out a lengthy rain delay at the outset for the second straight night. This time, after a delay of 1 hour 50 minutes, first pitch took place at 8:30 p.m.

The Tigers moved two games over .500 at 68-66 for the first time since May 7, when they were 19-17.

“We are obviously in a much better place than we’ve been for quite a while, and we’ve earned it,� Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “But that doesn’t help us win tomorrow. I have to keep everyone grounded and try to get them to play another game like we did today.�

The Angels (54-79) lost their seventh straight game and have dropped 13 of 15.

“We played a better game tonight, but we just didn’t put any runs on the board,� Angels manager Ron Washington said. “They earned their three runs and we earned our two, but that’s not enough.�

Tigers opener Mason Englert, making his first appearance since June 24, pitched two scoreless innings before giving way to former Dodger Kenta Maeda.

Maeda (3-6) gave up two unearned runs and four hits with two walks in 4-1/3 innings.

“I was able to mix in all my pitches,� Maeda said through an interpreter. “It helped to have a lead — I just went out there and leaned on that.�

Beau Brieske followed with two scoreless innings and Jason Foley pitched the ninth for his 19th save.

“There’s a lot to love about a win like this,� Hinch said. “We made big pitches, we made some defensive plays and Foley comes in and shuts the door in the ninth.�

Angels starter Griffin Canning (4-12) took the loss, giving up three runs and five hits and four walks in five innings. Canning is 1-5 in his last 10 outings.

“He really battled out there and he did a good job getting us through five,� Washington said. “If he’d been giving up three runs all year, we would have taken it.�

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the second on Torkelson’s two-run shot, his third since returning to the majors on Aug. 17. Detroit took a three-run lead on Carpenter’s run-scoring hit in the third. Carpenter has four RBIs in the first two games of the series.

“Jace (Jung) had a terrific at-bat — that was a 10-pitch walk — and I think he tired (Canning) out,� Torkelson said. “He gave me a good pitch and I was ready for it.�

Detroit took a three-run lead on Carpenter’s run-scoring hit in the third. Carpenter has four RBIs in the first two games of the series.

Mickey Moniak made it 3-2 with a 409-foot homer to right-center in the sixth. It was the 20th homer allowed by Maeda in 99-2/3 innings.

At one point during Maeda’s stint, Tigers catcher Jake Rogers went to the mound for what was supposed to be a pep talk.

“He claimed he was speaking Japanese,� Maeda said. “I have no idea what he was saying.�