The Detroit Tigers will be out for a measure of revenge when they open a three-game series versus the LA Angels of Anaheim Tuesday from Comerica Park.
The Angels swept the Tigers in three games back in mid-April and have won the last six matchups between the clubs. Detroit, though, has prevailed in seven of the previous 10 encounters in the Motor City.
Detroit just won a four-game series versus the Boston Red Sox and is coming off Sunday's 7-5 win in the finale. Prince Fielder highlighted a three-run eighth inning with a two-run single and finished with three RBI, while Austin Jackson had two hits and three runs scored.
Justin Verlander did not record a decision and was hit for four runs in five innings. Joaquin Benoit pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the win.
"Anytime you beat the leading team in the (AL) East three out of four, that's pretty good," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said after his club won for the 11th time in the past 17 tries.
The AL Central-leading Tigers are 4-3 so far on a 10-game homestand and will turn to Rick Porcello Tuesday versus the Angels. Porcello lost his last start on Wednesday in a 13-3 drubbing at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, as he gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings.
Porcello, a right-hander, is 2-2 in his past four outings and was rocked by the Angels in a 10-0 setback on April 20, when he lasted only two-thirds of an inning and allowed nine runs and nine hits, including a grand slam to young phenom Mike Trout. In eight career starts against the Halos, Porcello is 3-3 with a 7.68 ERA.
The Angels will start a six-game road trip Tuesday in Detroit and went 5-5 on a recent homestand.
Anaheim was swept in three games by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend and couldn't salvage the series with Sunday's 10-9 loss in 10 innings. The Pirates scored three runs in the top of the ninth to send the game in extra innings, then plated four more in the top of the 10th.
The Angels rallied for three runs in the bottom half, but couldn't pull off the comeback. J.B. Shuck had two hits, two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Howie Kendrick, Alberto Callaspo and Erick Aybar each crossed the plate twice in defeat.
Kevin Jepsen yielded four runs in relief to take the loss and starter Joe Blanton lasted 7 1/3 innings, giving up three runs -- one earned.
"Our bullpen has been doing a great job, but today it didn't happen," Blanton said afterward. "We kept fighting, but didn't pull it out."
Taking the mound for the Angels Tuesday will be C.J. Wilson. Wilson has won consecutive starts and spun seven scoreless innings in last Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Seattle. He was able to move above the .500 mark at 6-5 in 15 starts to go along with a 3.61 ERA.
Wilson, a left-hander, is 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 10 games, four of which have been starts, lifetime against the Tigers. He did not figure into the decision of a 4-3 win over Detroit on April 21 and gave up three runs in six innings.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.