Detroit, MI – Jhonny Peralta delivered a go-ahead, two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Detroit Tigers rallied past the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 5-3, in the middle portion of a three-game set at Comerica Park.
Delmon Young had an RBI double as part of a three-hit effort for Detroit, which scored five unanswered runs and snapped the Halos' four-game winning streak.
In the eighth, the Tigers put men on the corners with singles by Prince Fielder and Andy Dirks. Peralta then sent Garrett Richards' (3-3) offering into the left-field corner, erasing a 3-2 deficit.
LaTroy Hawkins took over on the mound for the visitors and gave up a run- scoring single to Alex Avila.
"We were kind of sparring a little bit there. We couldn't get them. Finally we got them when it counted there late in the game," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That was a good thing."
Jose Valverde earned his 26th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Drew Smyly was recalled from Detroit's Triple-A club in Toledo to start Saturday in place of Doug Fister (groin) and the rookie southpaw gave up three runs -- one earned -- on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over six innings.
The comeback made a winner out of Octavio Dotel (4-2), who tossed two frames.
Los Angeles starter Dan Haren, pitching on eight days' rest after having his rotation spot skipped in Boston, allowed two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk.
"He controlled the temp, controlled the counts much better," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "His fastball had a lot of hop and good command. It's definitely a step forward for Dan."
Trailing by three runs, the Tigers closed to within one with a pair of clutch, two-out hits in the sixth. Haren retired Detroit's vaunted 3-4 combo of Miguel Cabrera (on strikes) and Fielder (groundout), but a double by Young drove in Omar Infante, who led off with a Tobago of his own.
Dirks then plated Young with a bloop single just beyond the reach of shortstop Erick Aybar's outstretched glove, forcing a pitching change. Jordan Walden replaced Haren and got Peralta to groundout to second to end the inning.
Vernon Wells clubbed a leadoff home run to left field, giving Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the third. They added a second run when Bobby Wilson reached on an Infante throwing error and scored on a two-out single by Howie Kendrick.
The Angels capitalized on a rare defensive miscue by Detroit center fielder Austin Jackson in the fourth inning, and Aybar's RBI double made it 3-0. Jackson misplayed Kendrys Morales' fly ball for his first error of the season.
Game Notes
Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (right calf inflammation) missed his third straight game on Saturday ... Jackson committed his first error since June 29, 2011 ... Kendrick extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
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