1st Place Angels Drop Tigers 5-1

ANAHEIM (AP) -- Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells homered, Joel Piniero yielded five hits over seven solid innings, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1 Monday night for their ninth win in 11 games.

Erick Aybar and Mark Trumbo had RBI singles for the Angels, who have surged into first place in the AL West with 14 wins in 19 games overall, winning six straight series.

Charlie Furbush (1-2) didn't make it out of the fifth inning in his first career start for the Tigers, yielding five hits and three runs -- including one run on a comical balk that allowed Peter Bourjos to trot home from third.

Pineiro (4-3) walked three and managed just one strikeout, but largely avoided trouble in his fifth consecutive start without a loss.

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