DETROIT _ Alex Avila did a lot for the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, but not enough in the end.
The Tigers are back under .500. They lost to the Los Angeles Angels, 5-3, on Tuesday night at Comerica Park and are 28-29 overall. The loss snapped a four-game win streak.
The Tigers fell to 6-21 when they score four runs or less.
Alex Presley and Jose Iglesias hit back-to-back two-out singles in the ninth inning. The Tigers had runners on second and third after a wild pitch by Bud Norris, before Ian Kinsler drew a walk to load the bases for Avila.
Norris fell behind 3-0 to Avila, who fouled off the next two pitches and then struck out looking to end the game.
Avila finished 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.
Tigers left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris gave up a pair of home runs, including a solo home run by Kole Calhoun in the first inning. Outfield troubles arose in the fifth and seventh innings on balls hit by Calhoun, adding to the Tigers' deficit.
Norris didn't have his best stuff. He allowed five hits on four runs (three earned) over six innings. He walked three and struck out seven. After throwing less than 100 pitches in each of his past two starts, he threw a season-high 110 pitches against the Angels.
Norris allowed an opposite-field home run to Calhoun, a left-handed hitter, in the first inning. Norris escaped a 30-pitch, three-walk third inning without allowing a run.
But in the fourth, he gave up a leadoff double to Yunel Escobar and then a two-run home run to C.J. Cron.
A fielding error by Tigers center fielder Alex Presley led to another run for the Angels in the fifth inning.
The Tigers cut the deficit in half with two runs in the sixth inning. Avila hit a solo home run to left-center. After a strikeout and walk in his first two trips to the plate, Avila hit his ninth home run of the season. With one out in the sixth, Angels right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez allowed three consecutive hits and another run. Chavez allowed a double to right to Victor Martinez, a single to left by J.D. Martinez and an RBI single to center by Justin Upton.
Calhoun hit a sac fly to right field that allowed Eric Young Jr. to score in the seventh, extending the Angels' lead to 5-2.
The Tigers added another run in the bottom of the eighth. A sac fly to right by J.D. Martinez that brought home Avila.
