Mike Trout adds more memorable moments as Angels beat Tigers

Angels center fielder Mike Trout started this series neck-and-neck in the American League Most Valuable Player race with Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera.

Trout on Saturday created some separation, creating signature moments to bookend the Angels’ 6-1 victory over reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.

In the bottom of the first inning, Trout hammered a leadoff homer — his 26th of the season — to ignite a four-run first inning off Verlander.

Then, for the game’s final out, Trout leaped and extended his glove over an outfield wall to rob a home run for the fourth time this season, turning a towering blast to dead center by Tigers slugger Prince Fielder into a home team victory.

Cabrera wasn’t around to watch after being ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a strike call.

After another Trout wall climb, victory fireworks erupted and the Angel Stadium crowd of 41,154 erupted into cheers of “MVP!”

“That’s a good feeling,” Trout said as the Angels (76-63) won for the 14th time in 17 games. “I’m just playing, running around out there, doing everything I can to get the team a win. Having fun.”

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said watching AL batting average, runs and stolen bases leader Trout all year hardens one to being in awe, “but to lead off with a homer and do that at the end is something special.”

The Angels’ pursuit of something special — a playoff appearance — continued as they remained two games out of the second AL wild-card spot. Left-hander C.J. Wilson (12-9) won his third straight start.

The Tigers’ ace had limited 20 of his first 28 opponents to three runs or less, but the surging Angels had four runs in the first inning.

After Trout smoked his homer deep over the left-field wall — tying a club homers record by a leadoff man — Kendrys Morales and Howie Kendrick followed a walk with doubles. Vernon Wells then doubled off the wall in right-center.

Morales doubled again in the third, his fifth hit in his first six at-bats in the series, scoring Albert Pujols after his leadoff double.

This was heady stuff, considering Verlander (13-8) started the night leading the American League in batting average against (.212) and complete games, ranking second in strikeouts and third in earned-run average.

Wilson (12-9) struck out six and gave up four hits in 72/3 innings, aided by two double-play grounders and a sprinting catch by Wells with two Tigers on base in the sixth. It was his longest outing since June 8.

“The key for me was to not get too amped up — big game, Verlander — and just get on the same page with my catcher and hit the glove,” Wilson said, who’s winning again after having gone two months without a victory. “It’s about how you finish. We have to continue to play like this.”

lance.pugmire@latimes.com