Angels relievers do more than the usual in win over Detroit Tigers, 8-7

Seventh-inning reliever Trevor Gott got the final out of the sixth inning Tuesday night. Setup man Joe Smith got the last out of the seventh and first two of the eighth. Closer Huston Street got the final out of the eighth and all three outs in the ninth.

“That’s August for you,” Street said after the Angels held on for an 8-7 win over the Detroit Tigers. “A lot of the traditional roles go out the window. ... We’re trying to fight, to get back into this thing. You have to be prepared to expand your role by a couple of outs in certain games. Just don’t ask us to do that every day.”

The relief effort behind Jered Weaver, who gave up six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, helped the Angels end a four-game losing streak and pull to within a half-game of Texas for the second wild-card spot. The Angels remain five games behind Houston in the American League West.

“You don’t have those cards to play very often, but when you have a chance to win a game, you want to take advantage of it,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Those guys got it done. They got some big outs for us.”

Second thoughts

Second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who is batting .265 with 21 doubles and 40 runs batted in, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of a “personal medical condition.”

Because of health information privacy rules, the team did not disclose Giavotella’s illness, but the condition is not considered serious, and Giavotella, who said Sunday he was having flu-like symptoms, is expected to return this season.

Giavotella did not accompany the team to Detroit. Grant Green started the last three games in Giavotella’s absence but left Tuesday night’s game in the fourth inning because of right-knee discomfort.

Green said tests revealed that he “tweaked” the knee, and he was hopeful he could play Wednesday.

“We’ve got some guys banged up at inopportune times right now,” Scioscia said.

Short hops

Left-hander Sean Newcomb threw seven no-hit innings, striking out six and walking one, for double-A Arkansas against Tulsa on Tuesday night. Newcomb was pulled after 64 pitches because the Angels are limiting his workload.

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Third baseman David Freese (broken right index finger) hit a grand slam for triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

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Third baseman Conor Gillaspie, who was designated for assignment on Aug. 18, cleared waivers and was sent to Salt Lake.

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The Angels recalled right-hander Drew Rucinski from Salt Lake.

Follow Mike DiGiovanna on Twitter @MikeDiGiovanna