Tigers edge Angels 2-1 in Anaheim as Lee delivers ninth-inning double
Hao-Yu Lee’s clutch hit breaks a tie, while Keider Montero closes out the game as Detroit defeats Los Angeles on Friday night
The Detroit Tigers secured a 2-1 comeback victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim, California, driven by a decisive ninth-inning hit from Hao-Yu Lee. Lee lined a two-run double with two outs to break a 1-1 tie, capping a game defined by strong pitching performances and late-game tension. The win marks Detroit’s 10th victory in its last 13 games, contrasting sharply with the Angels’ recent struggles, during which they have lost 11 of their last 13 contests.
Angels starter Reid Detmers delivered a commanding performance on the mound, pitching six shutout innings and allowing only four hits while striking out seven batters. Detmers, who is considered a top target for contenders ahead of the MLB trade deadline on 3 August, effectively mixed his 95 mph fastball with an 86 mph slider and a 72 mph slow curve. Despite his strong outing, Detmers was credited with the loss after the Angels’ bullpen failed to hold the lead in the final frame.
Detroit’s offensive output began in the first inning when Josh Lowe drove in Zach Neto with a grounder to second, giving the Angels an early 1-0 advantage. The score remained unchanged through the middle innings, with Angels reliever Sam Bachman striking out three of four batters in a scoreless eighth. Tigers starter Troy Melton, a 25-year-old right-hander making his first big league appearance at Angel Stadium, allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine batters.
The game’s turning point arrived in the ninth inning when Angels reliever Kirby Yates struggled to contain Detroit’s lineup. Yates, whose record dropped to 0-5, issued a walk and hit a batter to open the top of the inning. After getting Kerry Carpenter to fly out for the second out, Yates yielded Lee’s two-run double. Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle had previously preserved the tie by leaping to grab a high chopper from Oswald Peraza behind the bag and throwing to first for the second out.
Detroit reliever Keider Montero (6-5) earned the win by pitching three and one-third scoreless innings, striking out five batters. He closed the game by inducing a ground out from Denzer Guzman with runners on second and third. Prior to the contest, the Angels announced the signing of first-round draft pick Jared Grindlinger, a two-way standout from Huntington Beach High School who will begin his professional career as an outfielder. The teams will face off again on Saturday night, with Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal set to oppose Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez.
