Taylor Ward homered, doubled, and singled while driving in three runs as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Detroit Tigers 7–4 on Saturday night at Comerica Park. Entering the game as slight +105 underdogs, the Angels used Ward’s bat and timely pitching to even the series heading into Sunday’s finale.
Ward opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI double to left-center off Detroit starter Charlie Morton, bringing home Mike Trout for a 1–0 lead. Detroit answered quickly in the bottom half when Andy Ibáñez tied the game with an RBI single, and Jake Rogers followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Tigers ahead 2–1.
Morton, who matched his season high with 10 strikeouts, found a groove after Ward’s first-inning double, striking out seven consecutive Angels batters. His streak ended in the fourth when Trout grounded out to open the inning. Ward then singled, and Morton hit Yoán Moncada with a pitch to put two runners aboard. Jo Adell followed by sending a three-run homer into the left-field seats, giving Los Angeles a 4–2 advantage.
Detroit responded in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Vierling drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Gleyber Torres tied the game at 4–4 with an RBI double down the left-field line. Morton returned for the fifth inning but ran into more trouble. In his third plate appearance, Ward launched a two-run homer to right field, his 24th of the season, to restore the Angels’ lead at 6–4. The blast ended Morton’s night after 4 1/3 innings in which he allowed six runs on seven hits. The 41-year-old also hit his 11th batter of the year and extended his streak to 12 seasons with at least 10 hit batters, leading all active pitchers with 198 in his career.
Luis Rengifo added insurance in the eighth inning with a solo home run off Tigers reliever Alex Faedo, making it 7–4. Detroit threatened in the sixth with runners on first and second and no outs, but Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi struck out pinch-hitter Kerry Carpenter and got Torres to ground out, ending the rally.
Kikuchi, who improved to 6–7, allowed four runs on six hits over five innings, striking out five and walking one. The Angels’ bullpen held the lead, with Kenley Jansen closing the game in the ninth for his 21st season save. Jansen has now gone a career-best 20 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to 58–62, while the Angels improved to 55–62. Both teams are chasing a late-season push despite being outside of playoff position.
The series concludes Sunday afternoon with Detroit sending right-hander Casey Mize (10–4, 3.50 ERA) to the mound against Los Angeles rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3–9, 5.85 ERA). The Angels will look to secure the road series win before heading back to the West Coast.