Detroit, MI (Sports Network) – Mike Napoli finished 2-for-5 with three RBI as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim trounced Detroit, 10-1, in the middle installment of a three-game set from Comerica Park.
Juan Rivera added two hits, two runs scored and drove in two, while Erick Aybar hit a solo homer for the Angels, who have won two in a row since a three-game skid and posted double digits in runs without the services of outfielder Torii Hunter.
Hunter was given a four-game suspension and fined an undisclosed amount for his actions after being ejected for vehemently arguing balls and strikes Friday night, and began serving the sentence on Saturday.
Scott Kazmir (8-9) limited Detroit to a run on three hits with three strikeouts over five innings for the win.
“I felt really good,” Kazmir said. “I just felt confident with all my pitches. This is an outing that I can build on.”
Ryan Raburn knocked in the lone run for the Tigers, who fell for the fourth straight time and have dropped seven of eight.
Jeremy Bonderman (6-7) lasted just 4 1/3 frames, taking the loss after allowing four hits and four runs with five strikeouts and four walks.
“I don’t want to take anything away from him (Kazmir), but right now we’re making a lot of pitchers look good,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Already ahead 2-1, the Halos took control of the game for good with a five-run fifth.
Bobby Abreu started with a walk and moved up on a wild pitch, then two batters later an Alberto Callaspo base hit made it a two-run game and signalled Bonderman’s exit. Brad Thomas came on and uncorked a wild throw that advanced Callaspo to second before a walk to Hideki Matsui. Maicer Izturis followed with an RBI double, then Eddie Bonine took the hill and walked Rivera ahead of a run-scoring hit from Napoli. Bobby Wilson grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Izturis and it was 7-1 for the visitors.
Napoli’s two-run double in the seventh gave the Angels an eight-run edge, and Aybar’s leadoff homer in the eighth provided LA’s 10th run of the contest.
Michael Kohn and Kevin Jepsen closed out the game with a scoreless relief inning each.
Rivera’s two-run single in the first got the Angels an early lead, then Raburn’s groundout in the home half put the Tigers on the board.
Despite the loss, the Tigers still lead the season series 5-4…This was Napoli’s first multi-RBI game of August, with his last coming in a four-RBI effort against the Yankees on July 20…Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who had to restrain Hunter on Friday and was himself ejected, escaped punishment…It was the second time this month the Tigers allowed 10-or-more runs, with the last coming on Tuesday at Chicago in the first of a doubleheader.