Ex-Tiger Jefry Marte Knocks In 3 To Help Angels Down Detroit, 5-0
DETROIT (AP) — It's always fun to beat your former team.
Former Tiger Jefry Marte had three RBI and Tyler Skaggs shut down the Detroit offense in the Los Angeles Angels' 5-0 victory on Sunday.
After scoring 35 runs in the four games before this series, the Tigers were limited to six runs in the three-game weekend set against the Angels. It is the ninth time this season the Tigers have been shut out.
The victory gave the Angels back-to-back road series wins for the first time this season.
"I think it's huge for us," Skaggs said. "It shows that we're a good ball club. We haven't been playing that well, especially on our last road trip, so it's nice to win two series."
Marte hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning off Anibal Sanchez (7-13) for the first runs of the game. It was Marte's 10th home run of the season and first since Aug. 17.
"I was looking for a good pitch and try to drive the run in and was looking for a fastball," Marte said. "I try to do my best every game but when you play against a team that you were (with) before, that's something exciting."
Marte played in 33 games with the Tigers last season and was traded to the Angels in January.
The Angels added three more runs in the sixth, on sacrifice flies by Andrelton Simmons and Marte, plus an RBI double by Nick Buss.
Skaggs (2-3), pitching for the first time at Comerica Park, allowed just two hits while striking out six in six innings.
"That's a tough lineup any day of the week and he did a better job as the game went on of controlling counts and got some big outs," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He made some pitches when he had to."
Sanchez gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"He wasn't as sharp as he's been in the last few outings," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
The only Tiger with a hit off Skaggs was Miguel Cabrera, who had a single in the first and a double in the fourth.
"Their kid pitched well and they flat-out beat us," said Victor Martinez, who was 0-for-4. "That's the bottom line. We didn't do anything at all to score runs."
HOMER HAPPY
Marte became the fourth Angels rookie in the last six seasons with 10 or more home runs, joining C.J. Cron, Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Although 3B Yunel Escobar (concussion) is ready to start baseball activities Monday, Scioscia won't commit to him playing next weekend against Seattle. "If he feels good to play before then, we'll get him in before then, but we've got to wait and see when he can get back to baseball activities and how he works out on the field the next day," Scioscia said.
UP NEXT
RHP Matt Shoemaker will be making his first career appearance against the Cincinnati Reds. In eight career interleague games, seven of which were starts, Shoemaker is 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA.
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