Tigers 5, Angels 1: Max Scherzer, Alex Avila lift Detroit to series win

Well, how do you like that? The Tigers entered the second half with a couple of potential playoff teams on their schedule, and they went 5-2 against them. If they were to sweep the weekend series from Chicago, they'd sit atop the division. So far they've answered the bell pretty well.

(Will the Orioles win a wild-card spot? Probably not. Regardless, they were sitting in a wild-card spot only a few days ago.)

Another solid pitching performance should be heralded. Max Scherzer struck out nine Angels and allowed only a solo home run to score. Los Angeles was held to three hits for the game.

Scherzer has posted his 7th start with 9+ strikeouts this season, marking most among all MLB pitchers. #tigers

— Brian Britten (@BBritten_Tigers) July 19, 2012

It was a good way to bounce back from a nine-hit, five-inning game on Saturday against the Orioles, too.

Meanwhile the Tigers continued a trend of scoring two-out runs. The second inning was key. Jhonny Peralta was able to knock in Prince Fielder, who'd led off the inning with a double. Alex Avila then deposited an offering just beyond the reach of Mike Trout and into the bullpen beyond left field.

The Tigers went up 4-0 in the fourth when Danny Worth hit a two-out double, scoring Peralta. A one-out solo home run by Miguel Cabrera in the fifth inning capped off Detroit's scoring.

For the series, the Angels outscored the Tigers, 22-20. That can mainly be attributed to the 13-0 drubbing of Jacob Turner and Duane Below on Tuesday, of course. But I know there are some run-differential watchers out there, so it had to be mentioned.

Austin Jackson, Fielder and Peralta each had two hits.

3 ROARS

Max Scherzer

Alex Avila

Jhonny Peralta

3 HISSES

Quintin Berry - - 2 strikeouts, 0-for-4

Delmon Young -- 0-for-4

Brennan Boesch -- 0-for-3, 7 pitches seen

GAME 92 POG

Doug Fister with 98%