Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Zach Neto celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
during the fifth/sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz gets a replacement ball during the first inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward hits a single during the first inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith reaches for a wide throw but is unable to tag the Angels’ Taylor Ward on a stolen base attempt during the first inning on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward, right, steals second base as Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith misplays the throw during the first inning on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers shortstop Trey Sweeney tosses the ball to second base to force out the Angels’ Mickey Moniak and begin a double play during the second inning on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward avoids an inside pitch during the third inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak hits an RBI double during the fourth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Anthony Rendon scores from first base on a double by Mickey Moniak during the fourth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Anthony Rendon scores from first base on a double by Mickey Moniak during the fourth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Detroit Tigers’ Colt Keith breaks for first base on a ground out during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Zach Neto hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Zach Neto connects for a two-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Zach Neto runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Zach Neto runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Zach Neto, left, is greeted by teammate Nolan Schanuel after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel shows his frustration after being called out on strikes during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Detroit Tigers’ Zach McKinstry hits a single during the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joey Wentz throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Detroit Tigers’ Kerry Carpenter gestures to his dugout after hitting a single during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers players, coaches and trainers look over relief pitcher Joey Wentz after a ground ball hit by the Angels’ Taylor Ward hit his right leg during the seventh inning on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joey Wentz, center, is attended to by a trainer, catcher Dillon Dingler, right, and Manager A.J. Hinch after a ground ball hit by the Angels’ Taylor Ward hit his knee during the seventh inning on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith bobbles a ground ball hit by the Angels’ Nolan Schanuel and fails to throw him out at first base during the eighth inning on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher José Quijada throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Angels manager Ron Washington talks with relief pitcher Ben Joyce during the eighth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Angels manager Ron Washington talks with relief pitcher Ben Joyce as he enters the game while catcher Matt Thaiss listens in during the eighth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Detroit Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson strikes out with the bases loaded during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Detroit Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson tosses his bat after striking out with the bases loaded during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Sean Guenther throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Angels on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, left, and relief pitcher Ben Joyce hug after their 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Angels outfielders Taylor Ward, left, Kevin Pillar, center, and Jo Adell celebrate after their 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto, left, and right fielder Jo Adell celebrate after their 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto, center, greets teammates after their 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
1 of 40
The Angels’ Zach Neto celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT — Jack Kochanowicz was in a couple of messes Thursday afternoon, when the Detroit Tigers had two on and no outs.
Both times, he was able to take advantage of his best pitch.
Kochanowicz, who relies heavily on his sinker, got out of both jams by inducing double plays, helping him to six scoreless innings in the Angels’ 3-0 victory over the Tigers.
The Angels (55-79) still aren’t hitting much – Zach Neto’s 20th homer provided two of the runs – but this time their pitching helped them snap their seven-game losing streak.
Kochanowicz, a 23-year-old rookie, has now had four consecutive quality starts, with a 2.46 ERA in 25⅔ innings.
“He was outstanding again,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He’s growing, man. He’s learning how to use his stuff, when to use his stuff. And the most important thing is when it seemed like he’s in a little bit of trouble, he’s been able to correct himself. And that’s growth right there. That’s maturity.”
It’s also the presence of a dominating sinker.
Kochanowicz got 10 outs on grounders, including the two double plays. He threw 58 sinkers among his 73 pitches. Kochanowicz struck out four and did not walk any.
“That’s my M.O., getting ground balls,” Kochanowicz said. “Nothing different. Just trusting the same game plan, and it worked out.”
In the third, he gave up a leadoff double and hit a batter, but he then got Dillon Dingler to ground into a double play and struck out Parker Meadows.
Three innings later, Meadows and Kerry Carpenter led off the inning with singles. After Meadows went to third on a fly ball, Kochanowicz used his sinker to get a double play ball from Jace Jung.
Relievers Roansy Contreras, José Quijada and Ben Joyce finished it off, preserving the shutout. Quijada got into a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, but Joyce struck out Spencer Torkelson to end the inning. He then worked around a single in the ninth.
The solid pitching was enough on a day the Angels’ offense showed only moderate improvement. After hitting .196 in the previous 18 games, including 15 losses, the Angels had seven hits and three walks Thursday. Even though they were 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position, they were twice able to drive in runners from first.
Mickey Moniak drove in a run with a double in the fourth inning, and Neto hit his two-run homer in the fifth.
Washington said before the game that he thought Neto was pressing after hitting his 19th homer. He had just four hits in next 30 at-bats, before ending the weeklong drought by hitting the milestone.
“Everybody, even myself, knew I just needed one more to get to 20,” Neto said. “I could be pressing, could not. It was just me maybe doing too much. But I was happy I was finally able to get it, get a pitch and have a quality at-bat, the result being a homer.”
Neto, who has 23 stolen bases, became the first Angels infielder ever to have a 20-20 season.
“It means a lot,” Neto said. “That’s something I’ve always dreamt of, always looked at guys growing up doing it. It was like, man, one day hopefully I could do it. To do it here on the biggest stage, I think it’s pretty cool. And I haven’t been able to soak it all in yet, but on this flight home I’ll definitely be able to look back and enjoy it.”
