DETROIT _ Before Wednesday night's game, inside an office more crammed with media than usual, Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was asked a simple question.
He was asked if young right-hander Buck Farmer was part of the team's starting rotation, not a fill-in spot starter like he was late last month in Chicago.
Ausmus' answer was, "Yeah, pretty much."
On that day, Farmer pitched the best game of his career, striking out 11 batters over six-plus scoreless innings for the win.
On Wednesday night, perhaps he took the "pretty much" out of the equation.
Farmer was brilliant against the Los Angeles Angels, throwing another six-plus scoreless innings en route to the Tigers' 4-0 win over the Angels at Comerica Park.
It was the team's first shutout victory of the season. They are 29-29.
The righty didn't fall into trouble against the Angels, who are without reigning American League Most Valuable Player Mike Trout.
Farmer's only threat came in the top of the seventh inning, when Albert Pujols led off with a single. Pujols was quickly extinguished on a groundball double play to Nick Castellanos at third base.
Farmer allowed three hits, one walk and struck out five. At 13 innings, his scoreless innings streak is the longest on the team this season, besting lefty Matt Boyd's 11 innings. Farmer took Boyd's spot in the rotation.
The Tigers took a lead in the third inning when Victor Martinez grounded into a double play. They loaded the bases against righty Alex Meyer when Ian Kinsler was hit by a pitch in the helmet, Alex Avila walked and Miguel Cabrera reached on an error.
Though he wasn't credited with an RBI on the play, Martinez is 9-for-12 in scoring a runner on third base with less than one out this season, according to records kept by the Free Press.
In the eighth inning, Justin Upton put the game away with a three-run home run to left field off Yusmerio Petit, his 12th long ball of the season. Upton didn't hit his 12th home run until July 29 last season. He finished with 31 homers.
Justin Wilson pitched a scoreless ninth inning to seal the win.
