ANAHEIM, Calif. -- — Logan O'Hoppe hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Friday night for their season-high fifth straight win.
O'Hoppe's heroics helped support a great night from the Angels' bullpen, which allowed only one hit in 6 1/3 innings and retired the last 16 batters they faced.
“Tonight was about the pitching, defense and timely hitting. That's always a good formula to have and we certainly put it together tonight,” manager Ron Washington said.
American League batting leader Luis Rengifo had two hits, including a two-run homer in the second inning, to raise his average to .315.
Detroit pitcher Kenta Maeda left after taking a liner off his glove hand and stomach during the sixth inning.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he took Maeda out because he was at 87 pitches and Kevin Pillar was the next batter.
Maeda allowed two runs and six hits and struck out four in 5 1/3 innings.
Detroit managed only two hits — a pair of singles — after being held to four Thursday night.
“We get in these stretches, and you have to find a solution rather than letting it drag you down,” Hinch said. “We’re not finding hits. There’s a little bit of everything that creates a poor week or a poor stretch.”
Angels starter Zach Plesac’s night ended after 2 2/3 innings and four straight walks. Luis García (3-0) got the win and Carlos Estévez finished for his 16th save.
“I couldn't get a grip on the ball. It just kept sliding out,” Plesac said. “I felt good. I was making some good pitches. I just lot my grip after that two-out span.”
Rengifo and Taylor Ward got aboard with one out singles to left in the eighth inning off Shelby Miller (4-6). After Kevin Pillar struck out, O'Hoppe hit a first-pitch splitter 418 feet over the wall in left field for his 11th home run of the season.
“Before that at-bat, I picture moments like that. I really tried to feel that moment as much as I could. Blanked out and took a swing,” O'Hoppe said.
The Angels got on the scoreboard quickly. After Nolan Schanuel led off with a base hit to center, Rengifo drove a fastball from Maeda over the center-field wall. It was the second straight game the third baseman hit a two-run homer.
Plesac retired the first eight Detroit hitters before things went awry. Ryan Kreidler got aboard with a single to center before Plesac walked four straight Tigers, including Matt Vierling and Canha with the bases loaded, to end his night.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon (left hamstring strain) could face live pitching this weekend with a possible return the week before the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
In a matchup of right handers, Detroit's Reese Olson (2-8, 3.35 ERA) faces Los Angeles' Griffin Canning (3-8, 4.72 ERA).
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Batch Alice In Wonderland IMG 3500 1 768x1024 Custard Puffs At Totoro Cafe In Tokyo On JR Pass Japan ?ssl=1FullSizeRender 2 Themed Cafes Tokyo Harajuku Attractions Tokyo By JR Pass 6 Screen Shot 2020 05 16 At 3.40.13 PM 1024x679 Screen Shot 2020 05 15 At 7.07.48 PM 34977005 4de2fed13ca2c41deea381efe75c0005 Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe Tokyo Japon 19 Couverture 81f8edb63274e386ecaece82ba65474b Image Screen Shot 2020 05 20 At 9.53.30 AM Tokyo Kirby Cafe Tokyo 225482 Maxresdefault Image 23 Edited ?w=1414&ssl=1B2ap3 Large Image2 Best Animal Cafes In Tokyo 20221015 120309 Scaled Coffee Shops In Chicago Bc0f6eef879af85386ad752dd877fca1 20180411 103001 Largejpg ?w=600&h=400&s=1Themed Cafes Tokyo 1 Maxresdefault DSC 7214 Scaled 1*HZnuKkBtuL4WeGJdJIlyqw IMG 9964 1140x811 189901 800x 7be2e8f302bdbfe5fea599b0c8fb523a Ajy073iwqygtzejmumit
