Game 43: Tigers West Coast Swing Starts Well, 8-6

Anaheim, CA (June 3) - The Tigers used a five-run fifth inning, then survived a four-run Angels seventh, to start their west coast trip with a much-needed 8-6 win at Anaheim Stadium tonight.

Leon Roberts smacked a bases-loaded triple in the fifth and recorded four RBI on the night.

Detroit native Frank Tanana took the loss for the Angels.

Tanana had sailed through the first four innings allowing just one run until the Tigers roughed him up in the fifth.

Gary Sutherland and Willie Horton drove in a run each with a single and double, respectively, and then Roberts cleared the bases with a drive over the head of center fielder Mickey Rivers.

The uprising put the Tigers up, 6-2. They extended the lead to 7-2 before the Angels kicked up their heels in the seventh off reliever Gene Pentz.

Bruce Bochte drove a two-run double into the right field corner, a Danny Meyer error on Dave Chalk's single allowed another run to score, and Joe Lahoud added an RBI double to make the score 7-6, Detroit.

The Tigers added an insurance run in the ninth on Roberts' solo home run.


Roberts broke out of a slump with a triple, a HR and four RBI


The previously slumping Meyer had three hits and scored twice.

Tigers starter Joe Coleman only pitched two innings. In the second, Coleman was run over by Lahoud on a close play at first base. Coleman landed awkwardly on his left leg, pitched the rest of the inning, but didn't look comfortable in allowing the Angels' second run.

Manager Ralph Houk replaced Coleman with Ray Bare to start the third inning. Bare responded with four shutout innings.

"He's day-to-day," Houk said of Coleman, who apparently hurt his left knee.

John Hiller, maligned during the Tigers' recent home stand, pitched an uneventful ninth inning for his eighth save.

Houk was asked if pitching on the road helped Hiller.

"No," he said flatly. "John did what John usually does. He just has had a tough stretch lately."

The Tigers (16-27) won for just the fifth time in their past 20 games.

Notes: Lahoud, on the play that injured Coleman: "It was just one of those things. We both got to the base at the same time. I hope he's OK"...The Angels' Jerry Remy had four hits and scored two runs...Houk said that if Coleman can't go in his next start, Bare would replace him...The game was briefly halted in the fourth inning when an errant beach ball from the stands eluded players and umpires in the outfield.

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Tigers record: 16-27 (actual 21-22)
Home: 8-16
Away: 8-11
Last 10: 2-8