Angels 2, Tigers 0: Lack of run support sinks Detroit yet again

In his second start for the Detroit Tigers, lefty Randy Wolf devoured the Angels through seven innings. He allowed just one run but with only an eighth-inning triple for offense, became the latest to fall victim to the curse of no run support. The Tigers took a 2-0 loss to the Angels, and a series loss at home.

Wolf had allowed just three hits over 5 2/3 innings pitched and had a low pitch count. A night after Verlander put up a stellar start against the Angels, Wolf was on track to do the same. He hadn't allowed a walk until the sixth inning but that's where he paid for it. Wolf walked back-to-back batters in the sixth with two outs, setting up the RBI single for Albert Pujols. There was some luck, though, as Anthony Gose threw out Pujols at second base when he got too aggressive.

But Wolf wasn't the only starter to command the strike zone. Matt Shoemaker toyed with Detroit batters, allowing just one hit and a walk. Both came from Anthony Gose, but he hurt his own chances by being picked off and caught attempting to steal. It wasn't until the eighth that the Tigers had a chance. Shoemaker was taken out of the game with one out and J.D. Martinez smoked a triple to the left-center field gap. Two outs to go had the Tigers in a good position to tie the game. They still couldn't get it done and Martinez was left stranded at third.

ROARS:

Randy Wolf: Was strong against the Angels, scattering five hits across seven strong innings. He gave up one run on an RBI single to Albert Pujols while striking out five.

J.D. Martinez: Jumped on the first pitch he saw to reliever Joe Smith in the eighth for a one-out triple.

Blaine Hardy: Gave a quick scoreless eighth inning on 10 pitches, striking out two batters.

HISSES:

Tigers offense: One hit and a walk. Both to Anthony Gose. Both times erased on a putout and a caught stealing. That was it for the offense against Matt Shoemaker. Gose didn't make it past first base in either occasion.

Bruce Rondon: Loaded the bases on an error -- by Nick Castellanos -- a walk, and a single in the ninth. A sac fly scored the Angels' second run of the day.

STREAKS AND STATS:

• Miguel Cabrera's 11-game hitting streak was snapped on Thursday with an 0-for-3 day with three strikeouts. That also snapped a 12-game streak of reaching base safely.
• Ian Kinsler's eight-game hitting streak was cut short as he went hitless, as well.
• J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to seven games with a one-out triple in the eighth inning.

WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:

Source: FanGraphs