Joel Pineiro pitched seven strong innings, and Vernon Wells had two hits and a home run to lead the Angels to a 5-1 victory over the Tigers in the opener of a three-game series in Anaheim. The Angels have won six straight series and are 14-5 in their last 19 games. They needed the win to keep pace with Texas for first place in the American League West.
Pineiro allowed just one run and five hits in seven innings, getting 11 ground ball outs. He picked up his fourth win of the season. Scott Downs and Michael Kohn pitched the final two innings to preserve the win.
Wells his his eighth home run in his last 19 games, a shot in the eighth inning off Phil Coke. It was the Angels' second home run of the night, as Torii Hunter welcomed himself back into the lineup with a solo home run in the first inning in his first at-bat. Mark Trumbo added two more hits and an RBI, along with his eighth stolen base of the season.
Dan Haren and Justin Verlander face off Tuesday night in the second game of the series.
For more news and information on the Angels, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Halos Heaven.