News » the Angels put together just enough offence

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For the first five innings, the Los Angeles Angels barely had a chance against Detroits Drew Smyly. After that, the Angels put together just enough offence and more than enough quality relief pitching to secure another gritty win. Efren Navarro and Kole Calhoun drove in runs in the sixth, and the Angels overcame Smylys 11-strikeout effort for a 2-1 victory Friday night. Navarro had two hits after replacing Josh Hamilton in the fourth inning as the Angels earned their majors-leading 36th home victory by beating the majors best road team. Yet even Navarro wondered whether the Angels could break through against Smyly, who struck out six straight at one point. "He was making his pitches, working on the outer part of the plate," said Navarro, who drove in Calhoun for the go-ahead run and chased Smyly with a two-out single. "But on that last pitch, he made his pitch, and I was able to do something with it." Miguel Cabrera homered and Smyly (6-9) had his career-high in strikeouts for the Tigers, who have lost seven of eight in Anaheim. After Detroits pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts in Thursdays series opener, Smyly struck out eight of the Angels first 10 hitters. The left-hander overwhelmed Los Angeles until the sixth, retiring his first 13 batters and striking out nine different Angels. "Ten out of the first nine hitters struck out, something like that," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said with a grin. "He had great stuff. For us to match him pitch for pitch, that was something." Everything changed abruptly with consecutive, one-out doubles by Chris Iannetta and Calhoun, followed by Navarros go-ahead RBI after the Tigers intentionally walked Albert Pujols to get to Los Angeles reserve outfielder. "I felt great pretty much the whole game," Smyly said. "I was executing all of my pitches pretty good, and they were the sharpest theyve been in a while, so I felt really confident. ... They have a really good lineup, so I knew I had to stay focused every inning because there wasnt much room for error. For me, its a good start to build off of." Tyler Skaggs yielded five hits in 5 2-3 resourceful innings for the Angels, who have won 14 of 19. Los Angeles improved the majors second-best record to 61-41 and pulled within two games of the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics, who lost at Texas. Los Angeles bullpen backed up Skaggs with 3 1-3 innings of one-hit relief, retiring nine straight along the way. Mike Morin (3-3) struck out Torii Hunter with the bases loaded to end the sixth inning. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his second save in three appearances for the Angels, wrapping up an all-around encouraging effort for Scioscias club. "Those (relievers) had tough hitters in every inning, and they did a terrific job," Scioscia said. Skaggs struggled much more than Smyly, needing 43 pitches to get through the first two innings alone, but still struck out five. "His fastball is his best pitch, and his curveball is really good, too," Hunter said. "That was my first time facing him -- I think everybodys first time facing him -- and he did a great job." Cabrera connected for his 16th homer leading off the fourth inning, putting his second shot in three days into the stands in right field. Los Angeles didnt get a ball out of the infield until Mike Trouts one-out fly ball to right in the fourth. The Tigers chased Skaggs with consecutive, two-out singles in the sixth. Detroit then loaded the bases when David Freese botched Martinezs soft grounder to third, but Morin fanned Hunter to end it. Hamilton left the game with soreness in his left knee and was replaced by Navarro in left field. The former AL MVP grounded out weakly in his only at-bat, and he failed to make a play on J.D. Martinezs long fly to left in the second, allowing it to bounce for a double. NOTES: Angels LHP C.J. Wilson threw a bullpen session in his recovery from his sprained right ankle. ... Kevin Jepsen struck out the Detroit side in the seventh for the hard-throwing right-handers 14th consecutive scoreless relief appearance. ... Detroits Justin Verlander faces Matt Shoemaker on Saturday night at the Big A. ... Trout was 0 for 4, going hitless for just the eighth time in his last 56 games. Freddie Freeman Jersey .C. - Goodyear has warned teams that increased speeds at Charlotte Motor Speedway will put a heavy emphasis on the right front tires in Saturday nights race a€” a potentially key development for drivers trying to advance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. Dansby Swanson Jersey . According to a report from ESPN, sources said Manuels college coach Jimbo Fisher told teams he didnt think Manuel had the tools to be an NFL starter. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/babe-ruth-braves-jersey/ . Almost 40 years to the day, the two teams will meet again, this time at BC Place, to celebrate the past and try to earn important points for the present. Tom Glavine Jersey . There, I saw a teenaged boy with tears in his eyes, being consoled by strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee. Dale Murphy Jersey . Keenum will make his first appearance in a regular-season game against the rugged defence of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where the fans just set a Guinness record as the noisiest outdoor stadium in the world.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews was fined $15,000 for a hit on San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the teams season opener. According to the NFL, Matthews was fined "for striking an opponent late." Matthews drew a personal-foul penalty in the 49ers 34-28 win Sunday after he tackled Kaepernick out of bounds deep in Green Bay territory during the second quarter. A fracas between players from both teams followed on the sideline when Matthews and 49ers left tackle Joe Staley began pushing and shoving. Staley received an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty. That offset the late-hit call against Matthews, resulting in a replay of third down at the Packers 10-yard line. Kaepernick then connected with Anquan Boldin for a 10-yard touchdown pass to put the 49ers ahead 14-7. The announcement of the fine came Friday afternooon after the Packers completed their post-practice obligations with the media.dddddddddddd When he spoke with reporters Thursday, Matthews wouldnt comment on speculation he would be disciplined for his hit on Kaepernick, who threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns in the game. "Im not really going to discuss all that right now, but on to the next game," said Matthews. The Packers host the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Matthews said he was fined by the NFL one other time for a face-mask penalty he had against Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in 2010, the linebackers second pro season. Besides Matthews, the NFL fined Boldin $7,875 for a late hit on Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush in the third quarter of Sundays game and fined 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks $12,750 for a roughing-the-passer call, the league said. 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