Angels Don’t Have a Tiger in Their Tank

Justin Thompson pitched a five-hitter and Bobby Higginson homered as the Detroit Tigers beat Anaheim 6-1 Friday night, the fourth consecutive loss for the struggling Angels.

The Angels, who began the day three games behind Seattle in the AL West, have lost seven of nine. Anaheim fell to 0-5 at Tiger Stadium this season.

Thompson (13-10) struck out five and walked two in his fourth complete game. He pitched the Tigers to their third win in a row.

Chris Turner, who had two of the Angels’ hits, ruined the left-hander’s bid for his second shutout when he hit a leadoff triple in the eighth inning and scored on Luis Alicea’s sacrifice fly.

Dennis Springer (8-8) gave up five runs on five hits with six walks in 6 2-3 innings. He is 1-4 in his last seven starts.

Higginson’s leadoff homer in the fifth, his 24th, gave the Tigers a 5-0 lead. He has a career-best 82 RBIs.

Brian Hunter’s leadoff single and two walks loaded the bases with one out in the Detroit first. Travis Fryman hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers added three in the fourth. Tony Clark led off with a single, Fryman doubled and Bob Hamelin had an RBI grounder. After a walk, Raul Casanova’s grounder scored another run and Deivi Cruz hit an RBI single.

Cruz doubled home a run in the eighth.

Angels reliever Rich DeLucia made his first appearance since July 14 when he replaced Springer in the seventh.