Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Iannetta hit a grand slam as the LA Angels of Anaheim routed the Detroit Tigers, 12-2, to open a four-game series.
Albert Pujols hit a two-run home run while Matt Joyce added a solo shot and drove in two for the Angels, who had lost four of five coming in. C.J. Wilson (3-3) allowed just one run on two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts in six innings.
"We're starting to put the first part of the season behind us. As bad as it looks, we're still in a good spot," Iannetts said.
Buck Farmer (0-1) was tagged for seven runs on nine hits in just five innings for the Tigers, who have lost four of their last six.
"We just didn't hit tonight," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "Lack of offense has been an occuring theme. We're hitting the balls hard, it has to turn eventually."
The Angels went on top in the first inning as Erick Aybar singled to start the frame and Pujols hit his ninth home run of the season for a 2-0 lead.
Joyce led off the second with his third homer of the year to give his team a 3-0 advantage.
Detroit loaded the bases with two outs in the third and got a run across when Miguel Cabrera was plunked with a pitch. Yoenis Cespedes looked at strike three to end the frame.
In the fifth, the Angels tacked on another run as Johnny Giavotella tripled to left with one out and Aybar laid down a suicide squeeze for a 4-1 lead.
In the sixth inning, the Angels added further to their lead as an infield single from Joyce plated a run. Grant Green scored another with a groundout, and a wild pitch from Angel Nesbitt allowed Kirk Nieuwenhuis to cross the plate for a 7-1 advantage.
The Angels put the game away in the seventh as Freese hit an RBI single with the bases loaded and Iannetta later smacked the fourth grand slam of his career for a 12-1 lead.
Jose Iglesias doubled in a run in the ninth for the Tigers to account for the final score.
Game Notes
The Angels moved to 12-11 at home, while the Tigers fell to 14-9 on the road ... The Angels placed outfielder Colin Cowgill on the 15-day disabled list Thursday as part of several roster moves. Cowgill has a sprained right wrist ... Detroit outfielder Anthony Gose went 0-for-4 and had a seven-game hit streak snapped.
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