(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will try to notch their first three-game road sweep of the Detroit Tigers in 12 years, as the clubs conclude their series today at Comerica Park.
Last night, Mike Napoli finished 2-for-5 with three RBI as the Angels trounced Detroit, 10-1, in the middle installment of this set.
Juan Rivera added two hits, two runs scored and drove in two, while Erick Aybar hit a solo homer for the Angels, who have won two in a row following a three-game skid. Anaheim, which hasn't swept Detroit on the road since August 10-12, 1998, even posted double digits in runs without the services of outfielder Torii Hunter.
Hunter was given a four-game suspension and fined an undisclosed amount for his actions after being ejected for vehemently arguing balls and strikes Friday night, and began serving the sentence on Saturday.
Scott Kazmir (8-9) limited Detroit to a run on three hits with three strikeouts over five innings for the win.
"I felt really good," Kazmir said. "I just felt confident with all my pitches. This is an outing that I can build on."
Ryan Raburn knocked in the lone run for the Tigers, who fell for the fourth straight time and have dropped seven of eight.
Jeremy Bonderman (6-7) lasted just 4 1/3 frames, taking the loss after allowing four hits and four runs with five strikeouts and four walks.
"I don't want to take anything away from him (Kazmir), but right now we're making a lot of pitchers look good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Rick Porcello will now take the mound and try to help Detroit salvage the series finale. The right-hander, however, has really struggled of late, going 0-6 with a 6.26 ERA in his last eight starts. On Tuesday, Porcello was reached for seven earned runs and eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings of a 12-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He remained winless since defeating the Dodgers back on May 23rd.
In two starts versus the Angels this season, Porcello is 1-1 with a whopping 10.24 ERA.
Getting the call for Anaheim will be Trevor Bell, who is trying to capture his first win as a starter this season. Bell, who is 1-2 with a 9.13 ERA in six career starts, surrendered two earned runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings of work against Baltimore on Tuesday. The right-hander struck out five and left without receiving a decision in the team's 6-3 loss.
This will be Bell's first-ever appearance against the Tigers.
The Tigers have won five of seven encounters with the Angels since losing the first two meetings this year. That includes a three-game sweep at home from April 30-May 2, as Detroit has won nine of the last 14 meetings.