DETROIT -- Matt Vierling’s first home run of the season was a three-run, pinch-hit, go-ahead blast in the eighth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night at Comerica Park.

The Tigers (67-50) took the series opener and have two more against the Angels (55-61) this weekend.

With the Tigers down by two in the eighth, Angels reliever Reid Detmers issued back-to-back walks and fell behind 3-1 to Vierling. Vierling launched a fastball to the left-field bullpen, his first homer in 97 plate appearances this year.

The Tigers ended up drawing three walks in the eighth inning; they hadn’t drawn three walks in an entire game since July 22 at Pittsburgh.

Tigers starter Tarik Skubal didn’t make it out of the fifth inning, his shortest start since

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