Hao-Yo Lee lined a two-run double into the gap in right-center with two outs in the top of the ninth as the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Lee hit a 1-0 fastball by Los Angeles reliever Kirby Yates (0-5) that one-hopped the wall to drive in pinch runner James Outman and Riley Greene.
Matt Vierling had two hits and a stolen base and Greene and Ben Malgeri each doubled for Detroit, which snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the 10th time in the last 13 games.
Keider Montero (6-5) picked up the win with 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief. He allowed one hit and struck out five. Troy Melton allowed one run on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine and walking four.
Zach Neto had two hits and scored a run and Mike Trout had a double for Los Angeles, which lost its third straight game and fell to 2-11 in its last 13 games. Reid Detmers was denied his first win since June 16 at Arizona after allowing four hits over six shutout innings. He struck out seven, didn’t walk a batter and left after throwing 86 pitches, 57 for strikes.
Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Neto led off with a single and advanced to third on back-to-back walks to Nolan Schanuel and Jorge Soler to load the bases. Josh Lowe then drove in Neto with a groundout to second.
Detroit, which failed to get a runner to third base in the first eight innings, then rallied for two runs in the ninth against Yates.
Dillon Dingler was hit by a pitch to open the inning and, after Spencer Torkelson flied out to left, Outman stole second. Greene walked and Kerry Carpenter flied out to left, setting the stage for Lee’s game-winning hit.
The Angels put the first two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth, but failed to bring across the tying run, stranding two runners in scoring position.
