Dan Haren pitched a 2-hit shutout while outdueling Tigers’ starter Justin Verlander to record his 100th career win Tuesday night. The 1-0 victory was the Angels’ 12th win in their last fifteen games, and allowed the Angels to remain tied with Texas atop the AL West division.
Haren (9-5) recorded 9 strikeouts and no walks, and retired the final 15 Detroit batters. Tuesday’s shutout extends Haren’s scoreless streak to 17.1 innings. Through those 17.1 innins, Haren has allowed 4 hits, while striking out 15 and walking just one.
The Angels scored their lone run in the second inning when Howie Kendrick scored from first on Erick Aybar’s double to right. On a head’s up play by Angels third base coach Dino Ebel, Kendrick never slowed down as he approached third. With the throw from right fielder Magglio Ordonez going to second, Ebel sent Kendrick home, ahead of the throw from shortstop Jhonny Peralta.
The Halos had a chance to break the game open in the fifth when they loaded the bases with none out. However, they continue to have trouble finding the clutch hits in bases loaded situations. After loading the bases on singles by Aybar and Mark Trumbo, and a walk to Peter Bourjos, the Halo runners were stranded when Jeff Mathis struck out, Maicer Izturis popped out to short, and Torii Hunter lined out to center.
The Tiger Loss ends Verlander’s bid for his 10th consecutive win. Verlander (11-4) went 7.2 innings, giving up 7 hits and striking out eight, but was ejected as he left the mound after being taken out in the 8th. As he headed for the dugout, Verlander had words with umpires Angel Hernandez and Joe West apparently because he was ordered to change balls earlier.
Verlander wasn’t the only player eject in Tuesday’s contest. Bobby Abreu was tossed after questioning a called third strike in the first inning. It was the first time an Angels player had been ejected this season, and the first time for Abreua since 2007.