Pujols lifts Angels over Tigers 3-1 in 10 innings

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout hits a double against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a baseball game in Detroit today.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout hits a double against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a baseball game in Detroit today.

DETROIT  — Albert Pujols hit a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat Detroit 3-1 today for their ninth straight victory over the Tigers.

Mike Trout had four hits and was in the middle of the decisive rally for the Angels, who completed a three-game sweep. Jered Weaver pitched seven strong innings in a tight duel with Detroit right-hander Doug Fister.

J.B. Shuck singled leading off the 10th against Phil Coke (0-5) and went to third on Trout’s single to right field. Pujols sent a drive to deep center, where Austin Jackson tried to make a difficult catch with his back to home plate.

The ball tipped off the webbing of Jackson’s glove, hit the wall and trickled to the ground.

After an intentional walk to Howie Kendrick loaded the bases, Josh Hamilton made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly.

Kevin Jepsen (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth for the win and Ernesto Frieri got three outs for his 19th save in 21 chances.

Neither team could do much against the starters.

Weaver, making his sixth start since returning from a broken left (non-throwing) elbow, gave up one run and four hits. He walked two and struck out six.

After the Tigers scored in the second, Weaver allowed only a hit and a walk in his final five innings. He retired his the last 13 batters.

Scott Downs replaced Weaver and set down the leadoff man in the eighth. But Downs then allowed Omar Infante’s pinch-hit double and hit Jackson with a pitch. Downs was pulled for Michael Kohn, who struck out former Angel Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera, both swinging, to end the inning.

Fister yielded one run and seven hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out four. After the Angels tied the game in the fourth, he gave up only one hit in his final three innings and didn’t allow a runner past second.

Fister was relieved by Al Alburquerque, who pitched a scoreless eighth. The Angels got runners to second and third with two outs in the ninth against Joaquin Benoit, but he struck out Erick Aybar swinging at a 3-2 pitch to get out of the jam.

Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the second on Brayan Pena’s two-out RBI single. It scored Victor Martinez, who singled with one out and went to second when Jhonny Peralta followed with a single.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit today.

Los Angeles tied it in the fourth on three consecutive singles to start the inning. Brad Hawpe’s single to right scored Hamilton from third. Alberto Callaspo was thrown out at third by Hunter on the play.