Angels' Bullpen Misfires

May 17, 1998 / 9:26 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Anaheim manager Terry Collins wasn't the least bit consoled that his team outhit Detroit 14-4 Sunday. Not after four Angels pitchers combined to give up nine walks that proved fatal in a 4-3 loss to the Tigers.

Joe Randa hit a leadoff homer, and three straight walks led to two other runs in the eighth inning that rallied the Tigers to their fourth win in five games.

"I don't care how many hits you get, the object of this game is to get the ball over the plate," Collins said after the Angels' ninth loss in 13 games. "When you walk people your in trouble; they come back and kill you."

Jim Edmonds' second homer in two days gave the Angels a 3-1 lead in the top of the eighth before Detroit rallied in the home half.

Randa homered off Pep Harris, then three straight walks set up Detroit's other runs. Bip Roberts' pinch-hit single scored one and Paul Bako followed with a sacrifice fly.

Randa, who got off to a terrible start this season, hit his first homer as a Tiger. He's still batting only .225, but that's a lot better than the .179 mark he was at two games before the Tigers started a recent eight-game road trip.

"The last three weeks I've felt like I've been making strides," Randa said. "On the road I was more aggressive and I was starting to hit the ball, then I came home against Seattle and I stayed aggressive and I started swinging at some bad pitches.

"Today I let some pitches go by and try to be aggressive on good ones."

Bryce Florie (3-0) pitched two innings for the win, and Todd Jones worked the ninth for his sixth save. Jones allowed two one-out singles, but got out of trouble when Deivi Cruz stumbled on Cecil Fielder's grounder to short and still managed to start a 6-4-3 game-ending double play.

"Deivi made a great play," said second baseman Damion Easley, whose relay to first beat the slow-footed Fielder. "That thing stayed down on him and that's why he stumbled. But he stayed with it. He's one of those guys you don't understand how he can do it; you just appreciate it."

Rich DeLucia (1-3) was the loser.

The loss spoiled Omar Olivares' best start for the Angels. The former Tiger gave up just two hits in 6 2-3 innings and left with a 2-1 lead.

"I'm still struggling a little bit with my control," said Olivares, who walked five and hit a batter. "After those walks early in the game I felt better."

Olivares was making his fourth straight start after opening the season with seven relief appearances. The right-hander has a 3.18 ERA in those four starts.

"Omar did a tremendous job," Collins said. "He threw the ball well and deserved a better fate."

Anaheim's Justin Baughman had two hits and an RBI in his major league debut.

Detroit's Justin Thompson, who carried a one-hitter into the ninth inning of his last start against Seattle only to give up three two-out hits and lose 4-2, wasn't nearly as sharp this time. He gave up two runs on 10 hits and threw 102 pitches in six innings.

"I couldn't spot my fastball and the changeup was the only pitch I could throw for a strike," Thompson said. "For a guy who's supposed to be a power pitcher, I didn't have any power today."

Thompson escaped several jams before four straight one-out hits gave the Angels a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Edmonds hit an RBI single after Dave Hollins doubled and, after Phil Nevin's single put runners on first and third, Baughman beat out a squeeze bunt in front of the mound that scored Edmonds.

Edmonds homered a day after his hotly disputed homer helped Anaheim to an 8-6 win over the Tigers. This time there was no doubt as he hit a drive high into the right-field upper deck off Florie to make it 3-1 Anaheim.

Tony Clark's RBI single put the Tigers up 1-0 in the third after Olivares hit Randa and walked Bobby Higginson with two out.

Notes: Baughman batted eighth and played second base in his major league debut for the Angels. He was called up from Triple-A Vancouver to replace infielder Randy Velarde, who went on the disabled list Saturday with a strained right forearm. .. Clark got his second career stolen base in the second inning. ... The Tigers have homered in 11 straight games, and Easley has reached base safely in 22 straight games.