Angel Hitters Can’t Provide the Key Hit Against Tigers

Get solid starting pitching, hold the opponent to a few runs, and this potent Angel lineup will turn it into a victory. At least, that’s what it said in all those slick preseason brochures.

But somebody clipped the high-Glaus photos out of the Angel offense Tuesday night, and the Angel bullpen was a land of unfulfilled promises in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers in front of 13,411 in Tiger Stadium.

In the eighth, Angel left-hander Mike Holtz, who entered with a 0.00 earned-run average, gave up a single to Bobby Higginson, and Mark Petkovsek, the Angels’ most reliable reliever this season, gave up a tiebreaking, two-run home run to Dean Palmer.

Moved into the cleanup spot because of Tim Salmon’s injury, third baseman Troy Glaus, who was hitting .321 with runners in scoring position, struck out in two key situations: with runners on second and third and one out in the first inning, and with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth.

“I’ll take responsibility for that,” Angel Manager Terry Collins said. “I slapped him in that fourth spot, and that’s a lot to ask from that young of a guy. I’m sure the grip on his bat was a little tighter than usual.”

Angel starter Ken Hill, though hardly conquering his control problems, gave up one run on seven hits in seven innings, walking three and hitting three batters, but for the third time this season, the Angels lost a game in which they allowed three runs. The reason: they went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

“You get a great pitched game, you think all we have to do is score a couple runs to win,” Collins said. “[Tiger starter] Dave Mlicki pitched good, but we had some chances for easy runs and didn’t get them.”

Mlicki, acquired from the Dodgers on April 16, gave up one run on five hits--two of them bloops to shallow left-center field that Tiger fielders misjudged--in seven innings.

In addition to slipping out of that first-inning jam, he got Darin Erstad to fly out and Garret Anderson to ground into a double play to end the sixth, which Mo Vaughn and Glaus started with a walk and a bloop hit.

The Angels threatened in the ninth, when Tim Unroe walked and Matt Walbeck singled with one out, but Detroit closer Todd Jones struck out Andy Sheets and got Orlando Palmeiro to ground out to end the game.

“You can’t expect to come back against their closer in one inning,” said Petkovsek, who hadn’t allowed a homer in 12 innings and entered with a 0.75 ERA. “I set us back quite a bit.”

So did Holtz, a curveball specialist who fell behind Higginson, 2-and-1, and was forced to come in with a fastball, which Higginson lined into right field for a single.

“He’s falling behind guys, and that has kept him from throwing his curve,” Collins said. “That’s the pitch that gets people out.”

Petkovsek relies on sinkers, breaking balls and offspeed pitches, but it was a 1-and-2 fastball that Palmer ripped into the right-center field seats.

“The location was terrible, a fastball up,” Petkovsek said. “Deano has a quick bat and he’s gonna hunt the heaters, so I’ve got to make a good pitch, especially when I’m ahead in the count.”

Walbeck, the Angel catcher, said Hill had “the best fastball I’ve seen from him,” but his pitches had so much life, Hill had trouble harnessing them. After Brad Ausmus’ single to lead off the eighth, Hill hit Deivi Cruz and Frank Catalanotto to load the bases.

Hill nearly got out of the jam by getting Damion Easley to ground into a 1-2-3 double play, but Hill walked Higginson, his low pitch getting away from Walbeck, and Cruz scored from third when Walbeck’s throw to Hill covering the plate was high.

With runners on first and third, Detroit attempted a double steal, but Sheets, the Angel shortstop, fired a strike back to Walbeck, who did a superb job of blocking the plate and applying the tag to Catalanotto.

Walbeck homered in the fifth and had an excellent defensive game, throwing out two runners attempting to steal second, and the Angels also turned inning-ending double plays in the first and second. But pitching and defense didn’t win a game Tuesday night.

“These are the tough ones,” Collins said, “when you pitch well and don’t use it to your advantage.”

SALMON OUT: Tim Salmon injured his wrist trying to catch a line drive Monday, and he could be sidelined the rest of the week. Page 6