ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kevin Pillar's single with one out in the 10th inning drove in Taylor Ward and the Los Angeles Angels extended their winning streak to six, rallying for a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.
''Belief. You can feel the energy changing where maybe earlier we talked about going out and winning and hoping we win. I think we're starting to expect that every time we go on the field,'' said Pillar, who had the fourth walk-off hit of his career and first since 2018.
With Ward as the automatic runner in the 10th, Luis Guillorme had a sacrifice bunt to move Ward to third. Detroit decided to have five infielders with Pillar up and the outfielders playing in left center and right center. Pillar, who came in as the designated hitter in the seventh inning, hit a looping single into left off Jason Foley (2-2) for the Angels second walk-off victory of the season.
''The 10th inning set up perfectly for us. We had a guy who could bunt and a guy in the hole that has been in those situations before,'' manager Ron Washington said.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said with the five man infield they tried to play to Pillar's pull side, but he was able to get underneath the sinker.
''We played a good game. We didn't play one or two runs enough to win it. It's tough to start the road trip this way,'' Hinch said.
The Angels trailed 5-2 before coming back. Ward had a two-run double in the seventh inning and Logan O'Hoppe tied it with a solo shot to center to lead off the eighth. It was the second straight night the Angels' catcher homered in the eighth inning.
''We had some opportunities when we didn't put the ball in play, but we kept grinding in every inning. Then Taylor came up with the big move to get us back in the game,'' Washington said.
