Detroit, MI – Albert Pujols' RBI double in top of the 10th inning proved to be the difference, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim completed a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 3-1 victory at Comerica Park.
J.B. Shuck greeted Phil Coke (0-5) with a single to open up the 10th, and quickly moved to third on Mike Trout's liner through the right side. Pujols drilled a deep fly to center and Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson nearly made a terrific catch, but the ball just grazed off the tip of his glove and fell to the warning track, allowing Shuck to easily cross home.
"I feel like I'm not contributing in a positive way," Coke said. "That's a tough pill for me to swallow because I pride myself on what I do and I haven't got anything to show for it."
Josh Hamilton provided some insurance with a sacrifice fly two batters later, while Trout finished 4-for-5 and Brad Hawpe drove in a run for the Angels, who became the first visiting team to sweep the Tigers in three games at home since April 24-26, 2012.
Kevin Jepsen (1-2) earned the win after working around a single and a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth. Ernesto Frieri grabbed his 19th save of the year with a scoreless bottom of the 10th.
"Before we start talking about sweeps, we need to get to the next game. We need to carry momentum," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Brayan Pena drove in the lone run for the Tigers, who managed just seven hits.
Each squad had chances to score in the ninth with the game deadlocked at 1-1.
Detroit's Joaquin Benoit found himself in a jam at the top of the frame with runners on first and second and one out, but struck out Hank Conger and Erick Aybar. In the home half, Jepsen forced Andy Dirks to fly out with a runner on second.
Angels starter Jered Weaver tossed seven innings of one-run, four-hit ball and struck out six in the victory, Los Angeles' ninth straight versus the Tigers.
"It's definitely a confidence builder," Weaver added "That's the name of the game, going out there with confidence. Never going to stray away from that."
Detroit starter Doug Fister was also solid, allowing one run on seven hits with four strikeouts over seven innings.
The hosts opened up the scoring in the second with two outs. Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta smacked consecutive one-out singles and after Dirks struck out, Pena lined Weaver's changeup offering into right, scoring Martinez to make it 1-0.
Los Angeles answered in the fourth and tied the game with three straight singles. The final hit came from Hawpe, scoring Hamilton.
While both teams struggled to find any offense over the next couple of frames, Weaver dialed in and retired 12 consecutive batters at one point from the fourth through the seventh before exiting.
Detroit missed a great opportunity in the eighth. LA's Scott Downs allowed an Omar Infante one-out, pinch-hit double and then plunked Jackson. Michael Kohn entered the game, though, and escaped further damage by fanning Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera to end the inning.
Game Notes
The Angels placed pitcher Tommy Hanson on the 15-day disabled list prior to the game and recalled pitcher Michael Roth from Double-A Arkansas ... Seattle was the last team to sweep the Tigers in three games at home ... Detroit ended its 10-game homestand 4-6 ... The Tigers went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and fell to 2-8 in extra innings games this season.
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