DETROIT (AP) – Alexis Gomez hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Los Angeles Angels 2-1 Wednesday night to extend their winning streak to six.

Brandon Inge homered to tie the score in the sixth, then walked with one out in the eighth against former Tiger Jeff Weaver (1-4). Inge advanced on Ramon Santiago’s forceout, Scot Shields relieved and, with two outs, Gomez singled to center.

Joel Zumaya (1-0) got his first major league win, throwing six pitches and retiring Orlando Cabrera and Garret Anderson on flyouts. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his fifth save, completing a four-hitter.

Tigers starter Nate Robertson allowed four hits in 7 1-3 innings, striking out six and walking two. He has allowed one run in his last three starts, a span of 21 1-3 innings.

Detroit has the best ERA in the American League, starting the night at 3.46, and the Tigers have allowed just five runs in their past six games. At 19-9, the Tigers are off to their best start since going 24-4 in 1984 en route to their last World Series title.

The Angels have lost six straight games for the first time since April 8-13, 2002 – they rebounded from a 3-8 start that year to win their only World Series championship.

Weaver dropped to 1-2 against the Tigers, giving up five hits in 7 1-3 innings, striking out four and walking two. He pitched for Detroit from 1999 to 2002.

Vladimir Guerrero hit a first-inning sacrifice fly for the Angels following singles by Chone Figgins and Cabrera.

After Inge’s sixth homer, Santiago tripled and Curtis Granderson walked, but Weaver got out of the inning when Gomez popped out and Ivan Rodriguez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Notes: Mike Scioscia managed his 1,000th game (532-468), all with the Angels. … Tigers DH Dmitri Young began a rehab assignment at Double-A Erie. He has been on the DL since April 15 with a right quadriceps strain.

AP-ES-05-03-06 2151EDT

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