Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter lead the Tigers to 6th straight win, 3-2 over Angels

DETROIT (AP) — Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run home run in the second inning and Kerry Carpenter added an RBI single in the third as the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to six games with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

“We're finding different ways to win,” Torkelson said. “We're a versatile team. One night it might be the pitching staff, another night we get a couple bloopers to fall and some times it is a blast.”

The teams were forced to wait out a lengthy rain delay at the outset for the second straight night. This time, after a delay of 1 hour, 50 minutes, first pitch took place at 8:30 p.m.

The Tigers moved two games over .500 at 68-66 for the first time since May 7, when they were 19-17.

“We are obviously in a much better place than we've been for quite a while, and we've earned it,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “But that doesn't help us win tomorrow. I have to keep everyone grounded and try to get them to play another game like we did today.”

Los Angeles (54-79) lost its fifth straight game and has dropped 13 of 15.

“We played a better game tonight, but we just didn't put any runs on the board,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “They earned their three runs and we earned our two, but that's not enough.”

Tigers opener Mason Englert, making his first major league appearance since June 24, pitched two scoreless innings before giving way to Kenta Maeda.

Maeda (3-6) allowed two unearned runs on four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings.

“I was able to mix in all my pitches,” Maeda said through an interpreter. “It helped to have a lead — I just went out there and leaned on that.”

Beau Brieske followed with two scoreless innings and Jason Foley pitched the ninth for his 19th save.

“There's a lot to love about a win like this,” Hinch said. “We made big pitches, we made some defensive plays and Foley comes in and shuts the door in the ninth.”

Angels starter Griffin Canning (4-12) took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. Canning is 1-5 in his last 10 outings.

“He really battled out there and he did a good job getting us through five,” Washington said. “If he'd been giving up three runs all year, we would have taken it.”

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the second on Torkelson's two-run shot, his third since returning to the majors on Aug. 17.

“Jace (Jung) had a terrific at-bat — that was a 10-pitch walk — and I think he tired (Canning) out,” Torkelson said. “He gave me a good pitch and I was ready for it.”

Detroit took a three-run lead on Carpenter's run-scoring hit in the third. Carpenter has four RBIs in the first two games of the series.

Mickey Moniak made it 3-2 with a 409-foot homer to right-center in the sixth. It was the 20th homer allowed by Maeda in 99 2/3 innings.

At one point during Maeda's stint, Tigers catcher Jake Rogers went to the mound for what was supposed to be a pep talk.

“He claimed he was speaking Japanese,” Maeda said. “I have no idea what he was saying.”

UP NEXT

The teams finish the three-game series on Thursday, with RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-3, 6.08) facing Detroit's RHP Keider Montero (4-5, 5.15).

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Los Angeles Angels' Mickey Moniak hits a two-run home run to right center during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon tags Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter as umpire Mike Estabrook looks on during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter connects for a RBI single to right during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson connects for a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a two-run homer, Dylan Cease struck out 10 in six shutout innings and the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 5-0 on Friday night.

The Padres are a half-game ahead of the Diamondbacks atop the National League wild card standings and 1 1/2 games in front of the Mets for the third and final wild card spot. The Giants have lost three of four.

Luis Arráez had three hits and a walk on Friday, extending his streak to 129 consecutive at bats without a strikeout. It’s the longest since Juan Pierre went 147 at bats without a strikeout in 2004.

Cease (13-11) recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in the third inning when he got Donovan Walton looking. He held the Giants to four hits and two walks, and also got some help from defense in the sixth when Tatís and Jake Cronenworth combined to cut down Heliot Ramos at the plate on a double by Patrick Bailey.

San Diego scored three times in the first inning off Logan Webb (12-10). Tatís homered to center field after Arráez led off the game with a single. Xander Bogaerts drove in Manny Machado with an RBI double later in the inning.

Webb gave up a fourth run in the fourth when he threw wildly to first on a comebacker by Elias Díaz, allowing Jackson Merrill to score from second. He exited after the fourth after allowing seven hits, striking out four and walking one while throwing 83 pitches.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: IF Ha-Seong Kim (right shoulder inflammation), whose recovery has been shaky, was scheduled to throw on Friday but manager Mike Shildt said that Kim has “gone back a little bit in his throwing intensity.”

Giants: IF Tyler Fitzgerald (lower back tightness) has no structural damage in his lower back after undergoing an MRI. The shortstop is considered day-to-day after leaving Thursday’s game early, and manager Bob Melvin said he isn’t expected to go on the IL. … LHP Robbie Ray (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen this weekend. … RHP Randy Rodriguez (right elbow inflammation) threw a bullpen on Thursday and is scheduled for another on Sunday.

UP NEXT

RHP Mason Black (0-3, 7.50 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Giants in the second game of the series, opposite RHP Joe Musgrove (5-5, 4.64 ERA) for the Padres.

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

San Diego Padres catcher Elias Díaz, right, waits to tag out San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos at home during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres' Brandon Lockridge, from left, celebrates with Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. after the Padres defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Luis Arraez (4) during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., middle, celebrates with teammates during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, hits a two-run home run in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)