Spencer Torkelson had three extra-base hits, including a solo homer, and the Detroit Tigers overcame two more pitching injuries to blank the visiting Los Angeles Angels, 4-0, on Wednesday night.
Torkelson blasted his eighth homer while Kevin McGonigle had two hits and scored twice for the Tigers, who won for just the second time in 11 games. Dillon Dingler supplied two hits and one RBI.
Detroit starter Casey Mize departed after the fourth inning due to right groin tightness. Mize was making his third start since coming off the injured list due to a similar injury. Mize allowed two hits and one walk, striking out six.
Closer Kenley Jansen left with two outs in the ninth due to an undisclosed injury.
Detroit already has ace Tarik Skubal and Justin Verlander on the injured list due to injuries and Troy Melton just made his season debut on Sunday.
Drew Anderson (2-1) didn’t allow a baserunner while striking out three after replacing Mize. Kyle Finnegan collected three outs in the eighth. Brenan Hanifee got the final out after Jansen was removed.
Angels starter Jose Soriano (6-4) gave up three runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts over five innings. Los Angeles saw its four-game winning streak snapped.
The Tigers scored a run in the first on consecutive singles by Colt Keith, McGonigle and Dingler. Torkelson led off the second by hammering a 3-2 Soriano fastball over the left field wall.
Mize walked straight into the clubhouse after getting the third out in the fourth. The Tigers increased their advantage to 3-0 in the fifth.
McGonigle drew a two-out walk and Dingler also walked. McGonigle came around to score on Riley Greene’s single. Zach McKinstry then walked to load the bases but Soriano struck out Torkelson to prevent further damage.
Detroit made it 4-0 in the seventh. McGonigle smacked a one-out single and Dingler legged out a double to put two runners in scoring position. McGonigle scored on a passed ball by catcher Logan O’Hoppe.
Jorge Soler bounced out with two on in the ninth to end the game.
