DETROIT -- Most big-league managers would have still held on to a sliver of hope as Friday nights game between the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers came down to its last few moments.Yes, Nick Buss had just hit what looked like a game-ending double play ball, but Andrelton Simmons was crashing into Detroit shortstop Erick Aybar as he prepared to make the relay to first. If Simmons clean slide could break up the double play, the Angels would still be alive.Scioscia, though, knew they wouldnt be. After all, he had been Aybars manager for 10 years until he was traded last winter.I dont know that Ive ever seen a shortstop that is better than Erick at turning the 4-6-3 double play, he said. If he gets a decent feed, hes going to get the ball to first no matter who is coming at him.Sure enough, Aybar threw a strike to Miguel Cabrera, even as he was flipped on his face, clinching Detroits 4-2 victory.The Angels had a better chance in the eighth, when they pulled within 4-2 and chased Justin Verlander, but that brought in another of Scioscias former players -- Francisco Rodriguez.Rodriguez walked Mike Trout to put the tying run on base, then saw Albert Pujols barely miss a homer down the left-field line before getting him to ground out to end the threat.You knew that was going to be a battle with Frankie and Albert out there, Scioscia said. Albert almost got him, but he just couldnt wrap it around the pole, and then Frankie made a great pitch. Thats what hes going to do.That was enough for the Tigers, who have won five straight to move back into contention in both the AL Central and wild-card races.Verlander (14-7) allowed four hits and a walk while striking out eight in his ninth straight quality start. Since July 2, he is 7-1 with a 2.00 ERA while giving up 48 hits in 76 1/3 innings.This is what you work for, he said. You work so hard in the offseason so that you can be strong at the end of the year and continue to give your team a chance to win when it really counts.Trout went 0 for 3 against Verlander, and is 1 for 15 against the Tigers ace in his career.That was obviously a tough night, Trout said. He was throwing near 100 (mph), he was working the corners, and he was keeping us off balance. That doesnt give you many chances.Justin Upton hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the sixth -- his fourth in five games.Ricky Nolasco (4-12) held the Tigers scoreless for the first five innings, but ended up allowing four runs, nine hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings.I was putting up zeros and trying to give us a chance, but thats a stacked lineup, Nolasco said. I made the big pitches I needed until the sixth.Pujols gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the first, hitting his 585th career homer. He came into the game hitting .360 against the Tigers, the best average in baseball since 2001. It was Pujols first regular-season homer off Verlander, though he did hit one off the Tigers ace in the 2006 World Series.Detroit broke through in the sixth, tying the game on consecutive doubles by Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez, and Upton hit the next pitch into the stands in left field to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead.I hung two straight sliders, and it cost us the game, Nolasco said. J.D. hit the first one for a double and the next one was a home run.Cameron Maybin added a solo homer in the seventh. Verlander didnt allow a hit after the first inning until Kaleb Cowarts one-out single in the eighth. Cowart, though, scored on Kole Calhouns two-out double.That brought in Rodriguez to face Trout and Pujols.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: INF Jefry Marte returned to the Angels after missing the series in Toronto with tonsillitis. ... Reliever Cam Bedrosian is scheduled to see a vascular specialist early next week to determine if he needs season-ending surgery to remove a blood clot in his arm.Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) started for Triple-A Toledo in the first of what is expected to be three rehab starts. Zimmermann allowed two hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings, throwing 39 pitches.ACHTER HONOREDVisiting relievers arent usually included in pre-game ceremonies, but the Tigers made an exception for Angels reliever A.J. Achter. Friday was Michigan State University Night at Comerica Park, and Achter is the only active major leaguer who played for the Spartans.GOLD MEDALIST COMES HOMESwimmer Allison Schmitt, who grew up about 30 miles west of Comerica Park, threw out the first pitch. Earlier this month, she won gold and silver in the Rio Olympics, giving her four career gold medals and eight total medals.UP NEXTThe teams continue their three-game series Saturday night, with Tigers rookie Michael Fulmer (10-4, 2.58) facing Brett Oberholtzer (3-2, 5.77). Oberholtzer is replacing Jhoulys Chacin in the rotation, with Chacin moving to the bullpen. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Cheap Boston Celtics Jerseys . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. http://www.authenticchinajerseys.com/ . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Cheap NFL Jerseys . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. MIAMI -- Winning consecutive games at home for the first time all season isnt exactly something to celebrate, particularly when the season is nearly two months old.For the Miami Heat, its a start.Hassan Whiteside had 26 points and 22 rebounds, and the Heat clamped down defensively to beat the Indiana Pacers 95-89 on Wednesday night. Miami held the Pacers to 37 percent shooting and outrebounded them 58-38.Guess thats what you can expect with a Heat-Pacers game, regardless of who the faces are, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. It was good for us to grind out another one.No, this wasnt one of those playoff battles with the Pacers that featured LeBron James and Dwyane Wade almost always finding a way for the Heat in recent years. This time, it was the likes of Tyler Johnson and James Johnson coming up big, combining for 29 points off the bench -- and Whiteside simply controlling the paint during his 34 minutes.I try to lead by example, Whiteside said.Paul George scored 22 for the Pacers, who were hoping for a season-best third straight win and instead managed just 10 points in the fourth quarter. CJ Miles added 15 for Indiana.This is a game that we should have won, George said. Its frustrating. ... We played OK. We just didnt finish well.Neither team led by more than seven, and the Heat got to that margin after James Johnson found Goran Dragic for a layup and a 92-85 lead with 3:35 left.They needed to hang on desperately from there.Miami didnt score again until there were 12.9 seconds left, when Josh Richardson sealed the win with a dunk that put the Heat up five after Indiana didnt foul. The Pacers missed three 3-point tries that would have tied the game in the final 2 minutes, one by George and the last two byy Myles Turner.dddddddddddd.The Pacers shot 5 for 18 in the fourth. They went scoreless over a 7-minute stretch in the second half, and Miami took the lead for good during that drought.They basically muscled us and broke our offensive execution, Pacers coach Nate McMillan said.TIP-INSPacers: Monta Ellis (right groin strain) was sidelined again, and Rodney Stuckey played through a bruised left knee. ... This was the start of Indianas sixth of 17 back-to-backs this season. ... George has played 19 games at Miami, including playoffs. Indianas record in those games is 2-17.Heat: It was the fourth time Whiteside reached 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game, the second this season. ... Justise Winslow returned from a 16-game absence due to a sore left wrist and scored two points in 21 minutes. ... Dragic missed his first seven shots before connecting on a pull-up for his first basket early in the third quarter. He shot 4 for 15. ... Dion Waiters (groin) missed his 10th consecutive game.`CANES VISITMiamis womens basketball team -- No. 13 in this weeks AP Top 25 -- was at the game, along with coach Katie Meier. For some, it was their first time at a Heat game. They were so excited, said Meier, whose team next plays Friday at Florida International.FREE THROWSIndiana came into the night as the leagues fourth-best team at the foul line, Miami as the very worst. The Pacers went 14 for 17, the Heat 14 for 25.UP NEXTPacers: Visit New Orleans on Thursday, the second game in a three-game, four-day trip.Heat: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, the third game on this six-game homestand. 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