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Kevin Pillar’s walk-off hit leads Angels past Tigers in 10th inning

Los Angeles Angels second baseman Luis Guillorme (15) holds up the ball after tagging out Detroit Tigers’ Riley Greene on a steal attempt during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels’ Willie Calhoun heads toward first on an RBI groundout during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels’ Luis Rengifo runs to first after hitting a single against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers’ Wenceel Perez (46) advances to second base as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto catches the throw during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers’ Wenceel Perez watches his single against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers’ Zach McKinstry (39) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Detroit Tigers’ Jake Rogers (34) high-fives a teammate in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels’ Luis Rengifo hits a ball foul during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels’ Kevin Pillar heads to first on a single that drove in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Kevin Pillar (12) is congratulated by teammates after he hit a single to drive in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez tries to pick off Detroit Tigers’ Wenceel Perez at first base during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

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ANAHEIM – Going back to the basics this spring set a new baseline for the Angels, who continued to emerge despite early disappointments, injury woes and youth aplenty.

Logan O’Hoppe, one of the faces of that youth movement, hit a key home run in the eighth inning for the second consecutive game and Kevin Pillar had a game-ending single in the 10th inning as the Angels rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.

The club’s season-best winning streak was extended to six games, while the Angels also improved to 15-10 in June amid the first winning month under new manager Ron Washington.

“I’m still day-by-day,” Washington said before the game. “I’m not getting too high. I’m staying even keel and trying to keep these guys even keel. … Just keep moving, just keep moving, just keep moving. I’m pleased with the progress we have made with these young kids.”

O’Hoppe’s game-tying homer in the eighth was his 12th of the season and came after he hit the go-ahead home run to break a tie in the eighth Friday.

Even the Angels’ defense has come to the forefront, with O’Hoppe making a diving throw to second base in the ninth from his crouch behind the plate to wipe out Riley Greene, who was trying to steal. The leaping catch and stretched-out tag from second baseman Luis Guillorme was yet another sign of the club’s emergence.

Guillorme and shortstop Zach Neto made dazzling defensive plays in the top of the 10th inning to set up Pillar’s heroics as automatic runner Taylor Ward scored after Guillorme’s sacrifice bunt.

Angels pitching had held the Detroit Tigers in check all weekend before Jake Rodgers finally gave the visitors a run that wasn’t from a bushel of walks, a ground out or a sacrifice fly. For two full games and five more innings Saturday the Tigers had not scored a run on a hit.

That changed in the sixth inning, when Rogers hit a two-run home run off Angels right-hander Griffin Canning to go along with his run-scoring sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Canning started the winning streak with an impressive outing Monday against the Oakland Athletics and then did just enough over six innings Saturday to give the Angels a chance to rally. The bullpen added four more scoreless innings after 6 1/3 without a run Friday as Ben Joyce (1-1) picked up the win after a scoreless 10th.

In a mess of trouble early, when Canning saw the Tigers load the bases three batters into the game, he limited the damage by allowing only one run to score on a Colt Keith force out.

The Angels moved in front with two runs in the third inning by doing some manufacturing of their own. Nolan Schanuel scored the first run of the inning on a wild pitch and Willie Calhoun brought home the other on a ground out to first base.

The Tigers tied it 2-2 in the fourth on a Zack McKinstry fielder’s choice and Rogers’ sacrifice fly put Detroit up 3-2. Rogers’ home run in the sixth, his sixth on the season, put the Tigers up 5-2.

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In the seventh inning, the Angels showed the fight that has made Washington proud. Jo Adell walked out of the No. 9 spot in the order and went to third on a Luis Rengifo single and error by Tigers left fielder Riley Greene. Taylor Ward followed with a double to cut the deficit to a run.

“Anytime you can have a winning month, you’ve accomplished something,” Washington said. “And I will go from what I said in the beginning to just get better every month and I think we are doing it.

“… We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there and that’s what championship teams do: Show up every single day and night. We’re showing up, now we have to learn how to take care of business every single day and every single night.”

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