The Los Angeles Angels kicked off a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. The first game of the season between the two teams did not work out in favor of the Halos, as they blew a late lead and ended up being handed an 8-6 loss to start the series.
Miguel Cabrera managed an RBI groundout in the bottom of the first to stake the Tigers to a quick 1-0 lead, but Torii Hunter was able to tie things up with an RBI double in the top of the third. Prince Fielder scored on a throwing error by Ervin Santana in the bottom of the fourth to put the Tigers back on top, but the Angels were about to break through with a big inning.
The Halos plated four runs in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single from Mike Trout and RBI doubles by Hunter and Albert Pujols to give Los Angeles a 5-2 lead. The Tigers stayed tenacious, getting two of those runs back in the bottom of the frame with RBI singles from Fielder and Delmon Young.
In the seventh inning, the Angels went to their bullpen, which once again proved to be extremely fallible in pressure situations. Hisanori Takahashi and LaTroy Hawkins were unable to preserve the one-run lead, giving up a sacrifice fly to Young that tied things up, then allowing a two-out home run to Brennan Boesch that gave the Tigers a 7-5 lead.
Mark Trumbo launched his 25th home run of the year to left field in the top of the eighth to get the Halos back to within a run, but the Tigers tacked on one last insurance run in the bottom of the inning, thanks to an RBI single from Quintin Berry. The Angels were lucky to just give up the one run in that inning, as the Tigers had loaded the bases with one out for Fielder and Young before David Carpenter was finally able to retire the side.
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