Campero, Neto go back-to-back; Angels hand Skubal shortest outing of '25

DETROIT -- Facing Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal can be a daunting task. The defending American League Cy Young Award winner came into Friday night’s matchup with the Angels on quite a roll.

Skubal was 11-1 with a 1.87 ERA in his last 20 starts, dating back to April 8.

However, after being limited to an RBI double from Logan O'Hoppe through four innings and trailing by two runs going into the fifth, the Angels exploded off Skubal with back-to-back homers by Gustavo Campero (a two-run shot) and Zach Neto to take a 4-3 lead that was supplemented by a Jo Adell solo shot in the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, however, Tigers pinch-hitter Matt Vierling clubbed a three-run homer off left-handed reliever Reid Detmers, who opened the inning with tide-turning walks to Jahmai Jones and Gleyber Torres. The Angels went down quietly in the ninth, as they fell, 6-5, to Detroit at Comerica Park.

However, the Angels’ big inning, which had them riding high entering the bottom of the eighth, began in the most unlikely way.

Campero, who had subbed in the fourth inning defensively for the injured Bryce Teodosio, launched a 3-1 fastball from Skubal into the seats for his third of the year.

The next batter, Neto, followed Campero by drilling his 17th homer of the season for a one-run lead.

They were the first back-to-back homers Skubal had allowed since the Royals’ Salvador Perez and Jorge Soler (who is now with the Angels) did so on July 25, 2021.

“It was great,” said interim manager Ray Montgomery. “It just shows you there’s no quit. The guys are swinging the bat -- they’re getting after it. We just got to lock it down there and hold the lead.”

Skubal allowed four runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings for his shortest outing since June 19, 2024.

Montgomery thought his lineup’s at-bats against him “were great” and added, “He’s one of the best in the league. Obviously, Campy gave us a big lift there, and to have that kind of output against him, you feel pretty good.”

There were fireworks between Skubal and Neto on May 2 in Anaheim. Neto hit a 429-foot shot off him on the first pitch of the game, and Skubal wasn’t thrilled with him admiring it. When Skubal struck him out swinging in the third inning, they had words, and the benches emptied before calm was eventually restored.

“Both of them are huge competitors,” said Montgomery. “They want to win every battle -- no matter how big or small. Zach got that one and [Skubal], obviously, took a little offense to [it]. But in the spirit of what’s going on in the game, that’s fine.”

Neto got him again Friday, but nobody did anything to cause tempers to flare. It was just a dugout celebration this time for the Angels after Neto homered.

“It was great,” said Neto, the only batter to take Skubal deep twice this season. “Seeing your teammates top-stepping you against a pitcher like that is unbelievable. And Campy got his pitch cold coming into the game like that. Me, just being able to get a pitch to hit and not missing it.

“We got him on the ropes. … We got him out of the game early. That was the biggest thing. He’s a great pitcher over there.”

Vierling’s first homer of the season off Detmers ended up souring the thought of the Angels' big inning.

“Some days you have it,” said Detmers, “and sometimes you don’t. The days you don’t have it are the days you pay for it. I mean, it sucks. To give up two walks and the home run, it sucks.

“It is what it is. I’ll come back tomorrow and keep grinding. It’s not the end of the world.”

Montgomery complimented starter Kyle Hendricks (three earned runs allowed in five innings) on his outing. And Hendricks was in line for his seventh win of the season before everything changed.

“It was unbelievable fight from the guys -- never giving up and getting back in the game and re-taking the lead,” said Hendricks.

The Angels (55-61) got to Skubal, but couldn’t get into the win column on this night.

Teodosio injury update:
Montgomery said he took Teodosio out of the game for “precautionary’’ measures after he banged his head while making a catch in center field in the third inning.

“He’s doing OK,” said Montgomery. “He’s feeling a lot better.”

Montgomery wasn’t sure if any tests would be performed and said he would know more on Saturday.

“The way he fell and he hit his head on the wall -- we just wanted to be safe,” said Montgomery. “He had a little headache. So, he’ll work through it tonight.”