GDT: 4/30/10 - DET (13-10) vs LAA (12-11) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Angels brace for Cabrera-led Tigers

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com

The Angels hope to continue one of the weirdest trends in baseball on Friday, a run that has seen them shoot out to a winning record despite being significantly outscored by their opponents. The Halos have been outscored, 112-93, this season -- a disparity best tracked to their low-scoring offense and by the fact that they've lost a few one-sided games.

Los Angeles has yet to score more than eight runs this season, but it's allowed nine or more three times. And despite the overall numbers, the Angels are on an extended tear, having gone 10-5 after starting the season 2-6. They'll get a chance to extend that streak on Friday, when they hit the road to face the Tigers and superstar Miguel Cabrera.

These two teams split a four-game series last week in Anaheim, and three of the four games were decided by one run. Los Angeles has dominated the season series in recent years, though, notching a 49-24 mark against Detroit since 2002. The Angels have a three-game winning streak on the road and the best road record in baseball (280-213) since 2004.

But the Tigers have Cabrera, and that's been enough to keep them afloat through the first month of the season. Cabrera went hitless on Wednesday and Thursday against the Twins, but he still leads the league in RBIs (25) and is second in doubles (10). Cabrera also ranks among the leaders in a host of categories, including batting average (.330), on-base percentage (.419), hits (30) and total bases (55).

And in his case, those numbers aren't really fluky. Cabrera's April ranks with the best in franchise history, as he ranks second on the Tigers' charts in doubles (10), third in RBIs, fourth in extra-base hits (15) and seventh in total bases. What's more, Cabrera leads the league in home runs (76) and RBIs (255) since the start of 2008, when he became a Tiger.

Angels: Pineiro gets the call
The Angels will hand the ball to Joel Pineiro in Friday's series opener, and he'll take the hill with the knowledge that he's contained the Tigers in the past. Pineiro is 7-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 12 appearances against Detroit, including a strong 7 1/3 innings in a victory on April 19, but he cautioned against reading too much into those numbers. As far as Pineiro is concerned, he's faced a different Detroit team entirely.

"There's so much stuff going on, so many players switching here and there," said Pineiro, who spent the previous 2 1/2 years in the National League. "It's obviously nice, but you can't just say, 'Since I've done good, I'm always going to do good.'"

Pineiro, who has reinvented himself since his youthful star turn in Seattle's organization, knows that better than anyone. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.42 ERA through his first four starts, but he's also coming off a difficult start against the Yankees. Pineiro had shut down the Bombers earlier in the season and has been working on ironing out his mechanics.

"You make adjustments. I noticed my sinker was staying up my last game," he said. "Maybe my stride was too long. ... If I start sweeping from side-to-side, the ball comes up."

Tigers: Porcello enduring struggles
Rick Porcello, who will take the ball for Detroit, finds himself facing the first adversity he's seen in his brief career. The 21-year-old has pretty much had a straight line to stardom, but four starts into the season, he has a crooked ERA. Porcello has given up six earned runs in each of his past two starts, losing both games and shooting his ERA from 4.09 to 7.91.

And now, he'll have to face one of those teams again. Two outings ago, the Angels torched Porcello for eight hits and six earned runs en route to a 6-5 win. Porcello gave up three doubles in that game, and eight of the Angels' nine starters wound up with a hit. Porcello, a former first-round draftee, allowed five earned runs or more in consecutive starts just once last season.

Worth noting
Veteran Bobby Abreu went hitless and snapped an eight-game hit streak on Wednesday. Abreu is the only active player with 350 stolen bases and 250 home runs. ... The Angels are the only team in baseball whose starters have walked fewer batters than their bullpen (39 vs. 50). ... The Angels have committed just three errors in their past 11 games. ... Hideki Matsui is two RBIs away from 1,500 for his professional career. ... Austin Jackson had two more hits on Thursday to give him 11 multihit games, second best in the American League. ... Johnny Damon had his on-base streak stopped at 18 games on Thursday afternoon.



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (1-2, 7.91 ERA)
Sophomore slump or not, Porcello has some issues to work out with his mechanics, tweaks to try to put the sink back in his sinker and limit the kind of damage he has experienced in his past few starts. He allowed six runs on 10 hits over four innings last Sunday at Texas, and he has given up 12 runs on 18 hits over 8 1/3 innings in his past two starts. Though some of his pitch selections are up for debate, it's tough to question that his sinker hasn't been as effective this year. Porcello and coaches were looking over video after his last start to determine if he has dropped his arm angle and flattened out his pitches in turn.


MIN: RHP Joel Pineiro (2-2, 3.42 ERA)
The Tigers are hoping they have the same success the second time around against Pineiro that the Yankees enjoyed on Saturday. The sinker-ball artist coughed up as many runs (four) in Saturday's first four innings as he had in his first 20 1/3 innings in an Angels uniform, covering three starts. One of those was a blanking of the Tigers through 7 1/3 innings at Angel Stadium on April 19. Pineiro's success hinges on keeping his sinker down in the zone and complementing it with a quality slider and changeup. He's dominated the Tigers in Detroit, going 3-0 in three appearances with a 1.45 ERA. Overall, he's 7-2 in 12 games with a 2.40 ERA against Detroit.


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Saturday, May 1:
Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 6.97 ERA)) vs Angels (LHP Scott Kazmir (2-1, 7.20 ERA)), 1:05 PM ET(FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Sunday, May 2:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (1-2, 5.53 ERA)) vs Angels (RHP Jered Weaver (3-0, 2.53 ERA)), 1:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. Jackson, CF
   
2. Damon, DH
   
3. Ordonez, RF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Boesch, LF
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Laird, C
   
8. Sizemore, 2B
   
9. Everett, SS
   

P: Rick Porcello

ANGELS

1. Erick Aybar, SS
   
2. Bobby Abreu, RF
   
3. Torii Hunter, CF
   
4. Hideki Matsui, DH
   
5. Kendry Morales, 1B
   
6. Juan Rivera, LF
   
7. Howard Kendrick, 2B
   
8. Mike Napoli, C
   
9. Brandon Wood, 3B
   

P: Joel Pineiro

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Erick Aybar lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Bobby Abreu singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:1 O:1 - Torii Hunter singles on a line drive to
right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Bobby Abreu to 3rd. Torii Hunter to 2nd
on the throw.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Hideki Matsui grounds out, second
baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Bobby Abreu
scores. Torii Hunter to 3rd.

LAA 1, DET 0



B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Kendry Morales grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

LAA 1, DET 0 AFTER .5 INNING

Bottom Half

B:3 S:1 O:0 - Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Wood. Austin Jackson advances to 2nd, on throwing error by third baseman Brandon Wood.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Johnny Damon triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Austin Jackson scores.

LAA 1, DET 1



B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Johnny Damon scores.

DET 2, LAA 1



B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch reaches on fielding error by first baseman Kendry Morales. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge on foul tip.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds into a force out, shortstop Erick Aybar to second baseman Howard Kendrick. Brennan Boesch out at 2nd.

DET 2, LAA 1 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Juan Rivera grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Howard Kendrick swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Mike Napoli triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. (on a bad bounce off the base of the outfield scoreboard)


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Wood swinging.

DET 2, LAA 1 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Erick Aybar.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Johnny Damon grounds out, third baseman Brandon Wood to first baseman Kendry Morales.

DET 2, LAA 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Erick Aybar singles on a ground ball to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Bobby Abreu doubles (8) on a soft ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Erick Aybar to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Torii Hunter homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. Erick Aybar scores. Bobby Abreu scores.

LAA 4, DET 2



B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Hideki Matsui grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Kendry Morales grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Juan Rivera grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

LAA 4, DET 2 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Brandon Wood to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Howard Kendrick to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, third baseman Brandon Wood to first baseman Kendry Morales.

LAA 4, DET 2 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Howard Kendrick lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Napoli grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Wood flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

LAA 4, DET 2 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 - Brandon Inge walks.

B:1 S:0 O:0 - Gerald Laird homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Brandon Inge scores.

LAA 4, DET 4


B:0 S:1 O:0 - Scott Sizemore homers (1) on a line drive to left field. (1st major league home run)


DET 5, LAA 4


B:0 S:1 O:0 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:1 O:1 - Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Bobby Abreu.


B:3 S:1 O:1 - Jackson singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Rivera.


B:1 S:0 O:1 - Johnny Damon doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Juan Rivera. Austin Jackson scores.

DET 6, LAA 4


B:1 S:0 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez reaches on fielding error by shortstop Erick Aybar.

B:1 S:0 O:1 - Cabrera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Bobby Abreu. Johnny Damon to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:1 - Brennan Boesch hits a grand slam (1) to center field. Johnny Damon scores. Magglio Ordonez scores. Miguel Cabrera scores. (1st major league home run)

DET 10, LAA 4



B:0 S:1 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Matt Palmer replaces Joel Pineiro.

B:0 S:3 O:2 - Brandon Inge swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:3 - Gerald Laird grounds out, second baseman Howard Kendrick to first baseman Kendry Morales.

DET 10, LAA 4 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 3rd, playing left field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Erick Aybar grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Torii Hunter called out on .

DET 10, LAA 4 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Abreu.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
With Johnny Damon batting, wild pitch by Matt Palmer, Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Don Kelly pops out to shortstop Erick Aybar.

DET 10, LAA 4 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Hideki Matsui singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Kendry Morales lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Juan Rivera doubles (5) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Hideki Matsui scores.

DET 10, LAA 5



B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Rick Porcello. (Porcello 102 pitches, 66 for strikes)


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Howard Kendrick called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Mike Napoli swinging.

DET 10, LAA 5 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Erick Aybar to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Wood.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Gerald Laird flies out to left fielder Juan Rivera in foul territory.

DET 10, LAA 5 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Wood swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Erick Aybar grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu doubles (9) on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Torii Hunter grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 10, LAA 5 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore grounds out, third baseman Brandon Wood to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Brandon Wood to first baseman Kendry Morales.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter. (5 for 5 hit game)


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
With Johnny Damon batting, Austin Jackson steals (5) 2nd base.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Johnny Damon singles on a ground ball to second baseman Howard Kendrick. Austin Jackson to 3rd.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Don Kelly flies out to center fielder Torii Hunter.

DET 10, LAA 5 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Ryan Perry.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Hideki Matsui grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Kendry Morales singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Juan Rivera walks. Kendry Morales to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Howard Kendrick batting, wild pitch by Phil Coke, Kendry Morales to 3rd. Juan Rivera to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Howard Kendrick grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Kendry Morales scores. Juan Rivera to 3rd.

DET 10, LAA 6


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Napoli walks.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brandon Wood flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET 10, LAA 6 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Stokes replaces Matt Palmer.

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Torii Hunter.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch pops out to third baseman Brandon Wood in foul territory.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Torii Hunter. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Gerald Laird swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Scott Sizemore swinging.

DET 10, LAA 6 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Phil Coke.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Erick Aybar grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Bobby Abreu called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Torii Hunter grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 10, LAA 6 FINAL SCORE

BOX SCORE>>

	1_	2_	3_	4_	5_	6_	7_	8_	9__	R__	H__	E
LAA	1	0	3	0	0	1	0	1	0	6	10	3
DET	2	0	0	8	0	0	0	0	X	10	16	0

__LA Angels___AB__R__H__RBI_BB_SO_LOB__AVG

Aybar, E, SS_____	5___	1__	1____	0___	0___	0__	0___	.253
Abreu, B, RF	5	2	3	0	0	1	0	.298
Hunter, CF	5	1	2	3	0	1	1	.314
Matsui, H, DH	4	1	1	1	0	0	1	.273
Morales, K, 1B	4	1	1	0	0	0	2	.295
Rivera, J, LF	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	.247
Kendrick, H, 2B	4	0	0	1	0	2	2	.293
Napoli, C	3	0	1	0	1	1	1	.167
Wood, B, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2	3	.176
Totals	37	6	10	6	2	7	10	.262

BATTING
2B: Abreu, B 2 (9, Porcello, Perry), Rivera, J (5, Porcello).
3B: Napoli (1, Porcello).
HR: Hunter (3, 3rd inning off Porcello, 2 on, 0 out).
TB: Aybar, E; Abreu, B 5; Hunter 5; Matsui, H; Morales, K; Rivera, J 2; Napoli 3.
RBI: Matsui, H (13), Hunter 3 (13), Rivera, J (10), Kendrick, H (11).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Morales, K; Wood, B 2; Napoli; Hunter.
Team RISP: 1-for-9.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
E: Wood, B (5, throw), Morales, K (1, fielding), Aybar, E (2, fielding).



____Detroit___AB__R__H__RBI__BB__SO__LOB___AVG

Jackson, A, CF___	5___	2___	5___	0____	0____	0____	0___	.364
Damon, DH	4	2	3	2	1	0	1	.329
Ordonez, RF	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	.303
--Kelly, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	.217
Cabrera, M, 1B	5	1	3	0	0	0	0	.344
Boesch, LF-RF	5	1	1	4	0	0	1	.261
Inge, 3B	4	1	2	0	1	2	2	.264
Laird, C	5	1	1	2	0	1	5	.167
Sizemore, 2B	5	1	1	1	0	1	2	.254
Everett, SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.179
Totals	41	10	16	10	2	4	15	.282

BATTING
2B: Cabrera, M (11, Pineiro), Damon (9, Pineiro).
3B: Damon (1, Pineiro).
HR: Laird (1, 4th inning off Pineiro, 1 on, 0 out), Sizemore (1, 4th inning off Pineiro, 0 on, 0 out), Boesch (1, 4th inning off Pineiro, 3 on, 1 out).
TB: Jackson, A 5; Damon 6; Cabrera, M 4; Boesch 4; Inge 2; Laird 4; Sizemore 4.
RBI: Damon 2 (12), Ordonez (18), Laird 2 (3), Sizemore (5), Boesch 4 (7).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Laird; Kelly 2; Sizemore.
SF: Ordonez.
Team RISP: 4-for-12.
Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING
SB: Jackson, A (5, 2nd base off Palmer/Napoli).


___LA Angels__IP__H__R__ER__BB__SO__HR__ERA

Pineiro(L, 2-3)__	3.1__	10__	10__	9___	1____	1____	3__	5.76
Palmer	3.2	4	0	0	1	1	0	4.58
Stokes	1.0	2	0	0	0	2	0	3.97
Totals	8.0	16	10	9	2	4	3	4.82

____Detroit_____IP__H__R__ER__BB__SO__HR__ERA

Porcello(W, 2-2)___	5.1__	8___	5__	5___	0____	3____	1___	8.03
Perry	1.2	1	0	0	0	3	0	2.61
Coke	1.0	1	1	1	2	0	0	1.93
Valverde	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.75
Totals	9.0	10	6	6	2	7	1	4.30

WP: Palmer, Coke.
Pitches-strikes: Pineiro 63-40, Palmer 60-38, Stokes 18-13, Porcello 102-66, Perry 23-16, Coke 24-12, Valverde 11-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Pineiro 6-3, Palmer 5-5, Stokes 0-1, Porcello 9-1, Perry 2-0, Coke 2-1, Valverde 2-0.
Batters faced: Pineiro 23, Palmer 16, Stokes 5, Porcello 24, Perry 6, Coke 6, Valverde 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Perry 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Brian Runge. 1B: Gary Cederstrom. 2B: Ed Hickox. 3B: Marty Foster.
Weather: 81 degrees, clear.
Wind: 21 mph, R to L.
T: 2:43.
Att: 31,725.