Tigers closing in on division lead, beat Angels 5-2

By Sam Ali/Tell Us Detroit - Sports

DETROIT Tell Us Det) - The Detroit Tigers have gotten used to shaky starts this season. But Max Scherzer was determined to put his team in the best position to win the final game of their three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels.

In front of a sold out Comerica Park, Scherzer pitched seven strong innings allowing just one run off four hits while striking out nine as the Tigers beat the Angels 5-2. After some questionable play early on, including three hits in the first inning which allowed Angels outfielder Mike Trout to score his 100th run of the season, the righty flipped the switched and retired 18 of the last 20 hitters he faced in a lineup that featured four players batting over .280. "They are really good hitters. But at the same time, you got to believe that you can get them out," Scherzer said after the game.

And the offense started off quiet without their MVP-candidate Miguel Cabrera who was still nursing a bad ankle and was given the day off. However, after back-to-back home runs by Prince Fielder and Delmon Young in the bottom of the sixth, the game was out of reach for the Angels. Even without their star third baseman, the Tigers were still able to light up the score board. "It's tough for guys to play 162 [games] especially at the level that him [Cabrera] and Prince play at," Young said, "And for us to go where we got to go, he's got to be feeling good."

Detroit has won 22 of their last 28 games at home. After an off day on Monday, the Tigers travel to Kansas City to take on the Royals in a three-game series. Detroit is one and a half games back of Chicago for the division lead.