DETROIT (AP) — Matt Vierling hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 on Friday night.
With the Angels leading 5-3, reliever Reid Detmers (3-3) walked pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones and Gleyber Torres to start the inning. Vierling batted for Kerry Carpenter and hit his first homer of the season over the Detroit bullpen in left.
The Tigers avoided their third straight loss on a night when Tarik Skubal gave up back-to-back homers for the first time this season.
With one out in the fifth inning and the Tigers leading 3-1, Gustavo Campero hit a two-run homer to left. Two pitches later, Los Angeles took the lead on Zach Neto’s second homer against Skubal this season.
Skubal struck out Nolan Schanuel, but Mike Trout ended Skubal’s shortest start of the season with an infield single.
Troy Melton (2-1) picked up the win with 2 1/3 innings of relief. New Tigers closer Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Logan O’Hoppe gave the Angels a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the second, but Detroit scored three times in the bottom of the inning.
Spencer Torkelson led off with his 25th homer, Riley Greene singled and took third on Zach McKinstry’s double. Javier Báez followed with a two-run bloop single to left.
Jo Adell’s 24th homer put the Angels ahead 5-3 in the eighth inning.
The game was delayed briefly in the third inning when Angels centerfielder Bryce Teodosio stumbled catching a fly ball and hit his head on the fence. He stayed in the game but was replaced by Campero for the fourth inning.
Key moment
With one out and a runner on first in the seventh, Neto hit a 106.7-mph line drive to left, but Greene made a diving catch to help Troy Melton escape the inning.
Key stat
Skubal hadn’t allowed back-to-back homers since Salvador Perez and Jorge Soler did it in the first inning of a 6-1 win for the Kansas City Royals on July 25, 2021.
Up next
The teams face each other again on Saturday evening, with Detroit RHP Charlie Morton (7-9, 5.20) making his second Tigers start against LHP Yusei Kikuchi (5-7, 3.22).
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