Trout's homer backs Meyer's gem in Halos' win

ANAHEIM -- Michael Trout tallied two RBIs, including a solo home run in the first inning, and Alex Meyer produced his best outing as a Halo to vault the Angels to a 4-1 win over Detroit on Sunday at Angel Stadium.
Trout blasted his third homer in as many games, helping the Angels secure a series split. The reigning American League MVP also accounted for two steals on the day, joining Alexander Rodriguez as the only players to hit 175 homers and steal 150 bases by their age-25 season.
"Trouty's home run was big for us to answer back in the bottom of the first," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Meyer outdueled Justin Verlander, despite conceding a one-run single to Nicholas Castellanos on his sixth pitch of the contest to give Detroit a 1-0 lead in the first. Meyer immediately settled in, retiring 17 of the next 20 batters he faced. He tossed 6 1/3 frames, yielding one earned run on three hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
"It was a good stepping stone today," Meyer said. "Hopefully, [I can] build off of it and continue to get better."

"The whole thing you'd like to see in the game plan, he accomplished," said Scioscia, who added that Meyer's stuff was electric.
Verlander wasn't as sharp, relinquishing four earned runs on five hits and five walks in six-plus innings. The 34-year-old gave up two home runs, including a go-ahead solo shot to Angels second baseman Danny Espinosa in the fourth inning.
"I have to cut down on walks, that's the main thing," Verlander said. "I have to find a consistent release point. I looked at some video after I came out, and think I found something that'll help that. But I still gotta do a better job."
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons added a one-run single to push the Angels ahead, 3-1, in the seventh before Verlander's day was finished.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Look, Ma, I can hit!: Espinosa crushed a Verlander fastball 433 feet for his fourth home run to give the Angels a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The blast marked the second baseman's first homer since April 13 against Texas, and left the park with a projected exit velocity of 110 mph, according to Statcast™. Espinosa had broken out of a franchise-worst 0-for-36 streak on Saturday night.

Leaving them stranded:Richard Parker assumed the mound in place of Meyer during the top of the seventh, inheriting a runner on second with one out. Parker struck out left fielder Justin Upton with a 94 mph four-seam fastball, then managed to induce the hot-hitting J.D. Martinez into a fly out to center field, ending the Tigers' scoring chance in his 2/3 of an inning. 
THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, MOM
Meyer, who hails from Greensburg, Ind., didn't have his mother or any other relatives in attendance for Sunday's win, but he did say he received a flood of text messages from family congratulating him on the win.
"They were all watching. I had text messages from all my aunts, saying, 'Congratulations! Your mom's happy.'
"It was pretty cool to be able to throw and have the pink jersey, the pink cleats and everything on. It was special. I know she's definitely happy."
Players and coaches across MLB wore pink gear and used pink bats on Sunday to honor Mother's Day and raise awareness for breast cancer research.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Trout is now 2-for-16 with five strikeouts when facing Verlander. Each of his two hits off the 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner have each been solo home runs.
WHAT'S NEXT
Tigers: The Tigers have on off-day Monday to recover from their nine-game West Coast swing. They start a three-game set at home against Baltimore on Tuesday, when Matthew Boyd will toe the rubber on five days' rest. Boyd has recorded three consecutive quality starts and has a 3.96 ERA in four games since his last victory on April 16. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Angels: Right-hander Jesse Chavez (2-5, 4.29 ERA) will be on the mound for the Halos' series opener Monday against the White Sox. Through 14 career games (two starts) against Chicago, Chavez is 2-2 with a 3.07 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. PT from Angel Stadium.
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