Kevin Pillar hit a single in the 10th inning with one out, bringing Taylor Ward home and helping the Los Angeles Angels win their sixth game in a row. They beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5 on Saturday night.
Pillar, who came in as the designated hitter in the seventh inning, spoke about the team’s growing confidence: “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.” This was Pillar’s fourth career walk-off hit and his first since 2018.
In the 10th inning, Luis Guillorme sacrificed to advance Ward to third base. With Ward as the automatic runner, Detroit positioned five infielders and had outfielders covering left center and right center. Pillar faced Jason Foley (2-2) and hit a shallow single to left field, sealing the Angels’ second walk-off victory of the season.
Manager Ron Washington commented on the setup of the 10th inning: “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.”
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch explained their defensive strategy: “With the five-man infield they tried to play to Pillar’s pull side, but he was able to get underneath the sinker.”
Despite trailing 5-2 earlier in the game, the Angels made a comeback. Ward hit a two-run double in the seventh inning, and Logan O’Hoppe tied the game with a solo home run in the eighth inning. Washington praised the team’s persistence: “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.”
Hinch reflected on the game, saying, “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.”
