Hunter, Weaver help Angels snap three-game losing streak

Reporting from Detroit — 

The Angels got their groove back.

A day after their manager said his players had lost confidence, Torii Hunter and Jered Weaver displayed plenty of swagger during a 4-2 victory Friday night at Comerica Park.

Hunter hit a two-run homer and was ejected in the eighth inning following an epic tantrum in which he voiced his displeasure with home plate umpire Ron Kulpa after taking three consecutive called strikes.

The normally mild-mannered and easy-going right fielder was ejected as Scioscia ran onto the field to separate his star player from Kulpa, who also ejected Scioscia.

Hunter, whose first-inning homer provided half of the four runs the Angels scored off Detroit starter Justin Verlander (12-7), had to be restrained by third base coach Dino Ebel and first base coach Alfredo Griffin, who herded him into the dugout. Hunter then flung a bag of balls onto the field.

Weaver (10-7) gave up three hits and two runs -- one earned -- to help the Angels snap a three-game losing streak and win for only the second time in their last nine road games. He walked four and struck out nine, increasing his major league-leading strikeout total to 171.

The Angels displayed plenty of verve for a team whose charter flight from Baltimore was delayed by a couple of hours and didn’t arrive at their hotel here until about 3:45 Friday morning.

Howie Kendrick gave the Angels a 3-0 lead in the second with a run-scoring double to left-center field and Peter Bourjos eventually drove in Kendrick with a groundout.

Brennan Boesch hit a solo homer in the third for Detroit’s first run, and the Tigers put Weaver in a bind with consecutive walks to open the fourth inning. But they only got one run, when Miguel Cabrera scored on a groundout by Johnny Damon and a throwing error by second baseman Maicer Izturis.

Angels closer Brian Fuentes pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save.

Hunter is batting .500 with two homers, two doubles and six RBIs in four games since moving from center field to right.

ben.bolch@latimes.com