Detroit Tigers vs Los Angeles Angels Box Score on May 11, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 12, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Michael Fulmer continued his exceptional work on the mound, and Justin Upton and Andrew Romine slugged early home runs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Angel Stadium.

Upton belted a three-run homer to center in the first, and Romine ripped a two-run bullet down the right field line in the second to stake Fulmer to a 5-0 lead.

Fulmer (4-1), the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year, allowed one run and three hits in seven innings. He struck out seven, walked two and hit a batter.

Angels starter JC Ramirez (3-3) had allowed only three runs in his three previous starts covering 18-plus innings, but five of the first eight Tigers had a hit before he settled down. He went seven innings, allowing a single in his last four innings.

Ramirez was charged with five runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out four.

The Angels, who are 2-7 in their past nine games, have scored 12 runs in Ramirez's six starts.

Fulmer has gone six innings or more in all seven starts this season.

Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler made his first start after missing five games with a hamstring strain, and he went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs. Catcher James McCann also went 3-for-4.

Angels center fielder Mike Trout made his first start after missing five games with tightness in his left hamstring. He returned as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 to snap his career-high 17-game hitting streak.

"We consulted with the medical staff and thought DH was a better transition (for his return)," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We need to keep him loose between at-bats. This way he doesn't have to expand his trying to run balls down gap to gap."

With Trout the DH, Albert Pujols started at first and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

The Tigers jumped on the Angels for five runs in the first two innings.

Ramirez gave up soft singles to Kinsler and Nicholas Castellanos to start the first. He retired the next two batters but Upton hit the next pitch, a good curve low in the strike zone, over the center-field fence for a 3-0 Tigers lead. It was Upton's seventh home run of the season.

The Tigers made it 5-0 in the second inning as Romine pulled a 95 mph inside fastball down the right field line for a two-run shot. Romine was inserted into the lineup after Jim Adduci was a late scratch.

With two outs in the fifth, Los Angeles' Cliff Pennington worked a two-out walk and scored when Yunel Escobar's flair double to right took a funky bounce off the low wall in foul territory past Tyler Collins.

Escobar had three of the Angels' hits.

NOTES: The Angels have scored three runs or fewer in 11 of their last 18 games and are hitting .219 in May. ... Los Angeles 1B C.J. Cron, who was on the disabled list with a foot injury, sustained a bruised hand when hit by a pitch during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake. His return to the majors may be delayed. ... Angels RHP Andrew Bailey (shoulder) and RHP Cam Bedrosian (groin) are still in the early stages of their throwing programs and not expected to be ready for any rehab starts anytime soon. ... Tigers veteran RHP Francisco Rodriguez, whose career started in 2002 when he helped the Angels to the World Series title, lost his job as the Tigers closer after blowing his third save in five outings. He pitched the ninth inning Thursday. His spot has been taken by LHP Justin Wilson. ... Detroit OF J.D. Martinez, who has been out all season with a sprained right foot, hit a home run in a rehab start Thursday night. He might return to the Tigers next week.