Kevin Pillar's first walk-off hit since 2018 gives Angels 6-5 victory over Tigers in 10 innings

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Pillar's single with one out in the 10th inning drove in Taylor Ward and the Los Angeles Angels extended their winning streak to six, rallying for a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.

“Belief. You can feel the energy changing where maybe earlier we talked about going out and winning and hoping we win. I think we’re starting to expect that every time we go on the field,” said Pillar, who had the fourth walk-off hit of his career and first since 2018.

With Ward as the automatic runner in the 10th, Luis Guillorme had a sacrifice bunt to move Ward to third. Detroit decided to have five infielders with Pillar up and the outfielders playing in left center and right center. Pillar, who came in as the designated hitter in the seventh inning, hit a looping single into left off Jason Foley (2-2) for the Angels second walk-off victory of the season.

“The 10th inning set up perfectly for us. We had a guy who could bunt and a guy in the hole that has been in those situations before,” manager Ron Washington said.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said with the five man infield they tried to play to Pillar's pull side, but he was able to get underneath the sinker.

“We played a good game. We didn't play one or two runs enough to win it. It's tough to start the road trip this way,” Hinch said.

The Angels trailed 5-2 before coming back. Ward had a two-run double in the seventh inning and Logan O’Hoppe tied it with a solo shot to center to lead off the eighth. It was the second straight night the Angels’ catcher homered in the eighth inning.

“We had some opportunities when we didn’t put the ball in play, but we kept grinding in every inning. Then Taylor came up with the big move to get us back in the game,” Washington said.

Jake Rogers had a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Reese Olson had a season-high nine strikeouts for Detroit, which has dropped five of six.

Rogers also had a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning as he had his second three-RBI game of the season.

The Angels had a pair of defensive gems in the final two innings. O'Hoppe also made an off balance throw and Guillorme made a leaping grab and tag at second base to get Riley Greene out on a stolen base attempt in the ninth inning. Zach Neto also made a nice play on a sharp grounder by Colt Keith to end the 10th.

Ben Joyce (1-0) retired the Tigers in order in the 10th for the win.

Detroit got its first three runners aboard in the first but could only manage one run when Wenceel Pérez scored on Keith's fielder's choice.

The Angels took the lead with a pair in the third. Nolan Schanuel came home after Olson threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded and Willie Calhoun's grounder drove in Luis Rengifo.

Detroit responded with two in the fourth. Keith scored on Zach McKinstry's fielder's choice and Rogers' sacrifice fly brought home McKinstry.

Rogers extended the Tigers' lead to 5-2 in the sixth with a two-run shot to left-center. At 443 feet, it was the longest homer of his career.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: SS Javier Báez (lumbar spine inflammation) is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Monday at Triple-A Toledo.

Angels: CF Mike Trout (left knee) is hopeful for a return by late July ... 3B Anthony Rendon (left hamstring strain) is expected to face live pitching next week.

UP NEXT

Angels lefty Tyler Anderson (7-7), who is eighth in the majors with a 2.63 ERA, takes on Detroit RHP Casey Mize (1-6, 4.54 ERA), who is 0-6 in his last 11 starts.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Angels' Kevin Pillar heads to first on a single that drove in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels second baseman Luis Guillorme (15) holds up the ball after tagging out Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene on a steal attempt during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez tries to pick off Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez at first base during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels' Logan O'Hoppe (14) is congratulated by Luis Rengifo after O'Hoppe hit a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto takes the field before the Angels' baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels' Kevin Pillar watches his single that drove in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Kevin Pillar (12) is congratulated by teammates after he hit a single to drive in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels' Luis Rengifo (2) returns to the dugout after scoring a run on a groundout by designated hitter Willie Calhoun (5) against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers' Jake Rogers (34) high-fives a teammate in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers' Zach McKinstry (39) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez watches his single against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez (46) advances to second base as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto catches the throw during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Reese Olson throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning (47) throws to a Detroit Tigers batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

DALLAS (AP) — Klay Thompson is moving on from the Golden State Warriors, with the four-time league champion agreeing to join the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks and change franchises for the first time in his 13-year NBA career, two people with knowledge of the decision said Monday.

ESPN and The Athletic first reported the deal which, as currently constructed, will be executed as the sign-and-trade of a three-year, $50 million contract involving the Warriors, Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets, said the people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been publicly announced. One of the people who spoke to the AP said final trade terms were still being worked out.

Thompson is sixth on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers made list with 2,481, behind Reggie Miller (2,560), Damian Lillard (2,607), James Harden (2,940), Ray Allen (2,973) and Thompson’s now-former “Splash Brother” with the Warriors, Stephen Curry, and his 3,747 career makes from beyond the arc.

There were indications last season that Thompson and the Warriors might be headed toward a breakup.

Thompson came off the bench 14 times — not much in the grand scheme of things considering he played 77 games, but those were his first appearances as a reserve since his rookie season of 2011-12. He shot 38.7% from 3-point range, the second-worst of his career. He averaged 17.9 points, the third-lowest of his career. He wasn’t always in the finishing lineup and the season — and his Warriors career — ended with a 0-for-10 shooting performance against Sacramento in a play-in tournament loss.

Thompson — a five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection who missed two entire seasons with injuries — took a long look around the court after that game, soaking in the scene just in case it would be his final time playing with the Warriors. Turns out, it was. And now he'll join a Dallas team that just went to the NBA Finals as a shooter brought in to help Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

They were all undervalued on some level when they entered the NBA. None was a lottery pick, some weren’t even first-round picks and they didn’t have the label of can’t-miss prospects.

That was then. Monday was a very different story for Tyrese Maxey, Derrick White, Isaiah Hartenstein, Tobias Harris, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins — who are about to sign deals worth a combined $565 million.

All were confirmed to the AP by people with knowledge of the negotiations for the players involved.

Maxey, an All-Star this past season, agreed in principle to a five-year, $204 million extension that keeps him with the Philadelphia 76ers and set to play alongside Joel Embiid and soon-to-be-signed Paul George.

The 76ers, like the rest of the league, are chasing the Boston Celtics, who made a big move by agreeing with guard Derrick White on a four-year extension worth around $125 million. White averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists for the NBA champions this past season.

Hartenstein, a center coming off a breakout year, is leaving New York for Oklahoma City on an $87 million, three-year deal that includes an option. The Thunder — the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference this past season — also finalized extensions with Joe ($48 million) and Wiggins ($47 million).

And Harris is going to Detroit on a two-year deal worth $52 million, a move first reported by ESPN and one that will give the young Pistons an experienced veteran in the room as they continue their rebuild under newly hired coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Reynolds reported from Miami.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

FILE - Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) scores past San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, March 11, 2024. Klay Thompson is moving on from the Golden State Warriors, with the four-time league champion agreeing to join the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks and change franchises for the first time in his 13-year NBA career, two people with knowledge of the decision said Monday, July 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE - Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson gestures after making a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. Klay Thompson is moving on from the Golden State Warriors, with the four-time league champion agreeing to join the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks and change franchises for the first time in his 13-year NBA career, two people with knowledge of the decision said Monday, July 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)