Angels use no power to subdue Tigers, 13-4

Leave it to the Angels to reach double digits in scoring without the aid of a home run.

They singled, doubled and tripled the Detroit Tigers into submission Sunday night in a 13-4 victory at Angel Stadium, where they completed their first series sweep since June 22-24 and remained four games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West.

It was typical small ball for the Angels, who had 13 hits, none of which cleared the outfield fence for the 20th time in their last 22 games. They are tied with the Kansas City Royals for last in the AL in home runs with 68.

That’s not to say the Angels aren’t scoring runs. The outburst Sunday was the third consecutive game in which they reached double digits in scoring, only the second time in team history that has happened.

The Angels are fifth in the league in runs with 523, and the power outage hasn’t affected them where it counts most: Their 61 wins are second to the Boston Red Sox in the majors.

“That’s not what this team is built around,” third baseman Chone Figgins said about the lack of home run production. “When we get runners on base and move them around, that’s when we are at our best.”

There was plenty of that Sunday night against Jeremy Bonderman, who began the game 10-2 with a 3.69 earned-run average. The Angels tagged him for a single, two doubles, a triple and two walks in the first inning as they scored four times, the big blow a two-run triple by Gary Matthews Jr.

They added two runs in the second with the help of two singles and two wild pitches to take a 6-0 lead, and sent 10 batters to the plate during the sixth inning and scored six runs without an extra-base hit to take a 12-1 lead.

“We’re not worried about the home runs,” said Figgins, who had three singles, scored three runs and stole a base. “The home runs will come. As long as we get guys on base, we’ll be fine.”

The Angels scored 34 runs in sweeping the Tigers with only two home runs that accounted for five runs. And this was against the defending AL champions who are in first place in the Central Division.

The 12-1 lead was plenty of cushion, but not enough to get Dustin Moseley the win. Moseley, making a spot start, left with two outs in the fifth inning -- one out short of qualifying for the win -- after he loaded the bases.

Chris Bootcheck came in and gave up a two-run single to Craig Monroe that made the score 12-4. Moseley gave up four runs and five hits and threw 87 pitches, 12 more than the 75 wanted by Manager Mike Scioscia.

“We gave him as much as we could, then enough is enough,” Scioscia said. “I think Dustin threw the ball very well. It’s a shame he couldn’t get the win. Four and two-thirds is tough when you get that close. More important is the big picture. Get stretched out.”

The big picture includes a series against Seattle starting tonight at Safeco Field, so the Angels’ winning streak couldn’t have come at a better time.

They began the series with Detroit having lost three consecutive series and proving their mettle against a quality team was important.

“That’s a good ballclub,” Scioscia said. “I think that really points to the talent in our room. But it comes down to how we’re playing, not who we’re playing or where we’re playing.”

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