Angels Stop the Tigers

Former Tiger Phil Nevin’s two-out, two-run single led the Anaheim Angels to a 3-2 victory Wednesday night over slumping Detroit, the Tigers’ ninth consecutive loss.

Anaheim, which entered the game 1 1/2 games behind first-place Texas in the American League West, has won four games in a row. The Tigers have been swept in three consecutive series.

Steve Sparks (6-2) gave up two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings to improve to 3-0 in his last six starts. Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.

Reggie Williams, who made his season debut by pinch-running on Tuesday for Anaheim, singled in his first three at-bats and made a diving catch in left field.

Seth Greisinger (1-7) lost for the fifth time in six starts, giving up three runs on six hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out a career-high six.

Brian Hunter and Frank Catalanotto had three hits apiece for Detroit.

The Tigers took the lead with single runs in the first two innings on a RBI groundout by Damion Easley and a solo homer by Catalanotto, his third.

Anaheim went quietly in the first three innings before jumping ahead with three runs in the fourth.

With two outs and Tim Salmon on second, Chris Pritchett singled and Craig Shipley followed with an RBI double. Nevin, traded to Anaheim with Matt Walbeck last November, then lined a shot to left to score both runners.

Detroit nearly tied the game in their half of the fourth, but right fielder Garrett Anderson reached over the fence to pull back Gonzalez’s bid for a home run. On Sunday, Gonzalez had another home run taken away by Ken Griffey Jr.

Sparks got some more help from his defense in the fifth, when left fielder Reggie Williams made a diving catch to rob Catalanotto of an extra-base hit. The next batter, Gabe Alvarez, hit a 430-foot ground-rule double to center, but was left on base.

Detroit had two runners on in both the sixth and eighth innings, but Tony Clark and Easley grounded into inning-ending double plays.