ANGEL REID DETMERS pitched well against the Phillies (File photo).

By Pete Zarustica
Orange County Tribune

Another ninth inning collapse sent the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 defeat by the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night in Anaheim and deeper into last place in the American League West.

The Halos led 3-1 going into the top of the ninth when Edmondo Sosa hit a grand slam home run off Sammy Peralta and sent the home team home with a fifth consecutive defeat.

That outcome ruined a strong starting effort by Reid Detmers, who worked six pretty good innings. He yielded eight hits but just one run and struck out only two but walked no one.

With the loss, the Angels are 52-83 and are guaranteed another losing season. They’re now one game behind the fourth place Athletics.

At bat, the home team gathered just three hits.Wade Meckler had the best night at bat, with one hit, one RBI and one base-on-balls.

The Angels will try to end their skid on Saturday by sending Ryan Johnson (3-7) to the mound.

Skubal tames the Tigers

Tarik Skubal didn’t get the win in the box score, but there’s no question who was the most responsible for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

He pitched six strong innings, giving up just four hits and one earned run. He struck out seven Tigers and walked none to lower his ERA to 2.84.

With the score tied at 1-1, the winning run for the Dodgers came in the top of the eighth when Freddie Freeman’s line drive single to center brought in Teoscar Hernandez,

Their first run came in the top of the sixth when Miguel Rojas singled in Enrique Hernandez.

The Dodgers are now 81-54 and lead the National League West by nine games.