Magrane, Angels Beat Tigers, 6-0

When Joe Magrane came to the Angels last month after being released by the St. Louis Cardinals, his reputation was that of a control pitcher.

So the Detroit Tigers were probably a little confused when he walked a season-high six batters during the first four innings Thursday night. Magrane, though, went on to pitch seven innings and beat the Tigers, 6-0.

“I was just really struggling to throw strikes,” he said. “A lot of the time, I was just trying to keep the ball over the dirt around the plate. Luckily, the walks came in timely spots, where I could pitch around them.”

Magrane (2-1), who struck out five, gave up four hits, and two relievers gave up one each.

“He got himself in a lot of trouble early,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said. “He just kept getting himself out of it. After the first four innings, he just cruised.”

Scott Lewis and Steve Frey split the last two innings.

After the Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a run-scoring single by Greg Myers, Detroit nearly pulled even in the bottom of the inning, but left fielder Jim Edmonds, making his major league debut, threw out Tony Phillips at the plate for the third out.

Detroit loaded the bases in the fourth, but Phillips grounded into a inning-ending force at second.

“Early on, I got some great plays by the defense,” Magrane said. “After the fourth, my control came back, and I was finally able to get my changeup over the plate.”