DETROIT -- Max Scherzer gave Detroits beleaguered bullpen a bit of a breather. Custom Calgary Flames Jerseys . Scherzer struck out nine in seven innings -- fanning Mike Trout three times in the process -- and the Detroit Tigers finally managed to beat the Los Angeles Angels, 5-2 on Saturday. Detroit had dropped 10 straight to the Angels, including an 11-6 loss the previous night in which Los Angeles battered the Tigers with 10 extra-base hits. "I realized it was important to get deep into a game, and thats why even after the sixth inning I said, Let me go back out there," Scherzer said. "I know our bullpen has been taxed as of late." Nick Castellanos and Victor Martinez homered for the Tigers, who beat the Angels for the first time since Aug. 26, 2012. Albert Pujols hit his 498th homer, connecting for a solo shot in the ninth for Los Angeles. Scherzer (1-1) allowed a run and three hits with two walks. The AL Cy Young Award winner struck Pujols out twice and shut down Trout, rebounding quickly after giving up a homer to J.B. Shuck to lead off the game. "Some days youve just got to tip your cap. (Scherzer) made a few good pitches," Trout said. "Hes got good life on his fastball. The ball, in the middle, kind of rises up from that kind of sidearm motion." Joba Chamberlain struck out two in the eighth for the Tigers, and Joe Nathan got Trout looking to start the ninth. It was Trouts first career four-strikeout game. "Hes a great hitter, and I respect everything that he does," Scherzer said. "Youve got to be really aggressive right back at him." C.J. Wilson (2-2) gave up three earned runs in five innings. Shuck led off the game with a homer, but that was all the scoring for the Angels until Pujols homered for the second straight day, hitting his sixth shot of the season. In a sign of things to come, Scherzer struck out Trout, Pujols and Raul Ibanez immediately after allowing the homer to Shuck. Wilson made it through a shaky first inning, but Castellanos hit a two-run homer in the second to put the Tigers ahead to stay. Detroit added an unearned run in the third. Miguel Cabrera reached on an error by right fielder Brennan Boesch and went to second on a wild pitch. Cabrera was then called out at third when Trout -- his foil from the last two American League MVP races -- made a nice throw from centre. The Tigers challenged the call, however, and Cabrera was ruled safe. Cabrera scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Jackson to make it 3-1. The Tigers thought theyd escaped a jam in the fourth when Ian Stewart was called out trying to steal second, but the Angels challenged and the call was overturned. With runners on second and third, Scherzer struck out Erick Aybar for the third out. Martinez added a solo homer in the fifth, and Ian Kinslers sacrifice fly in the eighth made it 5-1. Scherzer, meanwhile, looked every bit his Cy Young self. Trout, Pujols and Ibanez -- the second, third and fourth hitters in the Los Angeles lineup -- went 0 for 8 with seven strikeouts and a walk against the Detroit starter. "I cant say enough about how important that start was -- not only for us as a team, but just for the bullpen," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We had a bunch of guys out there who really could use a day off." Its no surprise when Scherzer pitches well, but Chamberlains performance may have been even more encouraging. He retired the side on eight pitches -- all strikes -- in the eighth. "If he keeps throwing all strikes, hell pitch a lot," Ausmus said. NOTES: The Angels have outscored opponents 19-5 in the first inning this year. ... Los Angeles entered the game with a major league-high 27 homers and an AL-worst 20 homers allowed -- then added to both those totals. ... Detroit RHP Rick Porcello (1-1) faces Angels LHP Hector Santiago (0-2) on Sunday. Calgary Flames Gear . -- Jonas Hiller is cautiously confident he has kicked his vertigo. Flames Jerseys 2020 . Gonzalez participated in his final game on Sunday, Atlantas 21-20 defeat at the hands of the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers, having posted four catches for 46 yards. https://www.cheapflames.com/ .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Packers by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — New England 7-4, Green Bay 5-5-1SERIES RECORD — Tied 5-5.Peter Wright and Gary Anderson have the chance to play twice this week - but is Wayne Mardle expecting them to take advantage? As Premier League Darts heads to Birmingham on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7pm, our expert Mardle has concerns for fan favourite Snakebite.Heres Waynes picks for Thursdays arrows... Sky Live: PL Darts All the info you need... Peter Wright v Phil TaylorPeter is in a situation where he needs to win all his remaining games and hope other results give him a lift.I love that Peter entertains, I love that his action is superb, but he has got to stop changing his darts. Its becoming farcical. Phil Taylor beat Robert Thornton 7-2 last week Whenever he plays badly, we blame the darts. There will come a point where he plays himself out of form because of the constant changing.Prediction: I think Phil will win this. Hes winning when he plays well and hes winning when he doesnt play well - and thats a nice trait. (Sky Bet Odds: Taylor 1/2 to win)Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson One of the best checkouts of Barneys season I expected Barney to lose to Adrian Lewis last week but Lewis just didnt play well. We know what Barney can do, hes a champion, but Gary is playing better than him. I thought Gary was excellent last week and the week before.Rotterdam is the week after next, and Barney will want to perform on what will be the biggest stage for him.Prediction: I think Gary wins this because Im not convinced Barney can keep fighting for no reason, its just not his way. Anderson will win 7-4. (Sky Bet Odds: Anderson 6/1 to win 7-4)Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton Watch Adrian Lewis hit a nine darter You could have excused Thornton, after he didnt get eliminated, of just going through the motions. Calgary Flames Shirts. . He could have just turned up, but no, hes had none of that. Hes tried his heart out. But last week he was really poor. Hes really inconsistent, which is unusual for him. This is a game that Lewis knows he must win.Prediction: Lewis will win it, but it wont be easy pickings. I think it could be a last-leg thriller! (Sky Bet Odds: Lewis 7/1 to win 7-5)James Wade v Michael van Gerwen Michael van Gerwen was on Soccer AM at the weekend If you offered Wade 6-6 he would not turn up.James must replicate what he did in the first week with a win over Michael - hes still the only person to beat him this year. If he can, it bodes well for him to qualify.It could get messy for that fourth spot. A loss for Wade doesnt necessarily end his hopes - if everyone loses, a draw somewhere down the line could be enough. The race for fourth wont be sorted out this week.Prediction: I think Wade loses. I think Van Gerwen just has too much for Wade. (Sky Bet Odds: MVG 2/7 to win)Peter Wright v Gary Anderson Gary Anderson will need better counting to beat Peter Wright... Wright has a terrible record against Anderson. I really do feel that Gary likes to play Wright because he plays well against him a lot.Weve said this when Barney plays Van Gerwen, and when Lewis plays Barney - you get players that you just like to play against. And I dont think Wright is a lover of playing Anderson.Anderson feels like hes got Wrights number, and I also think he has.Prediction: A dismal night for Wright. (Sky Bet Odds: Anderson 8/13 to win)Watch Premier League Darts on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7pm, or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Fixtures/Results On Sky TV Prem Table Darts betting Get Sky Sports ' ' '