DETROIT — One more time this homestand, the fans came to Comerica Park looking for history. This wasn’t what they had in mind.
The last time the Angels came back from an eight-run deficit to win, Dick Schofield led off an eight-run ninth inning with a single and ended it with a walk-off grand slam off Tigers closer Willie Hernandez. That was Aug. 29, 1986, at what was then known as Anaheim Stadium.
None of the Tigers’ pitchers trying to protect their dwindling Thursday at Comerica Park were alive for that game. But as they headed on the road following their 13-10 loss to the Angels, they certainly could understand what that had to feel like.
Miguel Cabrera’s chase for his 500th career home run is headed to Toronto after going homerless for a sixth consecutive game. He still produced four RBIs Thursday, including a bases-clearing double in the second inning to build a 7-2 lead. Solo homers from Jeimer Candelario and Willi Castro and a Jonathan Schoop RBI double stretched the lead to 10-2 before the Angels rallied.
Unlike that 1986 game, the Angels whittled away at the lead, starting with a six-run sixth inning that included back-to-back bases-loaded walks from Joe Jimenez and a two-run triple from Brandon Marsh off Kyle Funkhouser. Jared Walsh added an RBI double off Michael Fulmer in the seventh before Max Stassi’s two-run homer put the Halos in front for good.