Angels victorious over Tigers in a 5-2 game, ending their 7-game losing streak, thanks to Hendricks' impressive pitching performance.
Fresh Take:
Hangin' in the OC, Kyle Hendricks snags his first triumph with the LA Angels as they snuff out the Tigers' streak at seven straight losses! The 35-year-old Hendricks, previously sporting a 6.65 ERA, clocked in an impressive 7 2/3 innings performance against Detroit, limiting them to only one run and four hits.
The turning point of the game? The 6th inning - twice, Kyren Paris and Luis Rengifo swung for two-run smashes, putting the Angels in a comfortable 5-0 lead.
Detroit finally broke Hendricks' shutout in the 8th, with Spencer Torkelson whacking a solo homie. Nevertheless, the Angels' bullpen, headed by Brock Burke and Kenley Jansen, closed the door with aplomb.
Riley Greene took care of an RBI grounder, and Colt Keith struck out, leaving the final score at 5-2.
A bit of a dust-up occurred in the 2nd when Travis d'Arnaud shot a double, darting home after some friendly fire between Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene in right-center. Carpenter was credited with an error.
Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty gave up five runs (four earned) in 5 2/3 innings, while Taylor Ward of the Angels remains stuck in an 0-for-26 rut.
The key moment came when the bases were loaded in the 6th, providing Rengifo a pitch to drill in a pair of speedy RBIs — his prowess with runners in scoring position is unmatched on the team, clocking a sweet .438 average.
Key stat
The Angels' 5-run outburst marks only the second time they've scored more than 5 runs in their last 20 games, with their last such occurrence on April 20 against the Giants.
Lineup for the series deciding match Sunday:
- RHP Reese Olson (3-2, 3.55 ERA) - Tigers' strike-thrower takes the mound
- RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-4, 5.29) - Angels counter with another dependable arm as they strive to split the series.
- In the realm of MLB news, Kyle Hendricks recorded his first win with the Los Angeles Angels in a game against the Detroit Tigers, ending their seven-game losing streak.
- Arts imitating life can be seen in the sports world, as Kyren Paris and Luis Rengifo's two-run home runs in the 6th inning painting a picture of the Angels' domination over the Tigers.
- The city of Toronto might as well be home for Riley Greene, given his consistent performance in RBI grounders, reminiscent of a Toronto Blue Jays player.
- Jack Flaherty and Jack Kochanowicz make for an interesting pitching match-up on Sunday, with their ERAs serving as the basis for an intriguing series-deciding game.
- As the era of flyball sports shifts towards more power plays and high-scoring games, the Angels' 5-run outburst against the Tigers could mark a new beginning, echoing back to their last such occurrence on April 20 against the San Francisco Giants.
