[0] ANGELS' STREAK HALTED ABRUPTLY WEAVER, BATS HELP DETROIT IN ROUT DETROIT 11, ANGELS 2.

Byline: Steve Ramirez Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Nothing lasts forever.

That includes the Angels' winning streak, which was halted at four games after an 11-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night at Edison Field.

``We've been combining good pitching with some good offense,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said prior to the Saturday's game. ``And we've gotten on some sort of a roll.''

The Tigers ended that. And Detroit, which improved to 12-16, has starter Jeff Weaver to thank.

The Simi Valley High alum, who improved to 3-4, won his third consecutive decision in his home state by limiting the Angels to seven hits, striking out seven over eight innings.

It didn't start out that way. The Angels, who had won seven of their past 10, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second.

Wally Joyner started the rally with a one-out single. He advanced to second on a walk to second baseman Adam Kennedy before catcher Jorge Fabregas singled home Joyner. Kennedy, who took third on the hit, scored on an RBI groundout by Orlando Palmeiro to make it 2-0.

But the lead was short-lived.

The Tigers, who received multihit games from left fielder Bobby Higginson, first baseman Tony Clark, shortstop Deivi Cruz and catcher Brandon Inge, countered in the third.

Damian Easley made it 4-1 with a line-drive home run to left field. That was followed by an single by Inge and a sacrifice and groundout. Higginson them made it 2-2 with a RBI single to right field before Clark gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead with a monster home run to center field that landed just to the left of the right-field bleachers.

The Tigers were hardly through, much to the dismay of Angels starter Ramon Ortiz, who lasted six innings and gave up nine hits and six earned runs.

Detroit made it 6-2 in the fifth. Inge started the rally with a leadoff double to left field. Right fielder Roger Cedano then bunted for a hit, which advanced Inge to third. Kennedy made a diving stop at second base of a ground ball hit by third baseman Jose Macias, but his only play was at first, allowing Inge to score and make it 5-2.

Higginson, who went 3 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored, then singled home Cedano for a 6-2 lead.

The Angels, who were retired in order just once, tried to rally in the seventh and eighth, both times with two outs.

Anaheim put runners on first and third in the seventh following an error and single by rookie shortstop David Eckstein. But Weaver was up for the task and struck out Darin Erstad to end the threat.

Erstad's hitting woes continued. He went 0 for 4 and now has just one hit in his past 25 games.

Detroit then increased its lead to 8-2 in the eighth.

The Tigers loaded the bases following a single by Clark, a hit batter and a single by Cruz. Center fielder Juan Encarncion then doubled to left to make it 8-2.

Detroit wasn't finished. After putting out an Angels rally in the eighth, the Tigers scored three times in the ninth.

Relief pitcher Mike Holtz struck out Cedano and Macias to start the inning before Higginson doubled. Clark, who went 3 for 4 with three RBI, then doubled home Higginson for a 9-2 lead. Designated hitter Dean Palmer then followed with a home run to right field to account for the final score.

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Ramon Ortiz allowed six runs and nine hits in six innings Saturday in a loss to Detroit, snapping the Angels' four-game win streak.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press