ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Tim Salmon's hand injury gave
switch-hitting Scott Spiezio a chance to bat third for the first
time this season, and he didn't disappoint.

Spiezio and Garret Anderson hit consecutive homers, and Kevin
Appier pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning as the
Anaheim Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 7-0 Monday night.

"It was fun to have the opportunity to hit third tonight and
have some success in that spot,'' Spiezio said. "The guys were
giving me a lot of junk about it before the game, saying `You're
the only No. 3 hitter with six home runs.' They told me to keep the
lineup card, frame it and send it to the Hall of Fame.''

The Angels' third straight victory and 11th shutout of the
season increased their lead in the AL wild-card race to a full game
over Boston and 2½ games over Oakland. Anaheim trails Seattle by
two games in the West.

Appier (10-9) struck out three and walked four in 6 2-3 innings
against Detroit -- last in the AL in walks, runs, homers and on-base
percentage.

"He has to lick his chops when the Tigers come to town,''
Detroit right fielder Robert Fick said after Appier improved his
record against Detroit to 13-8.

"He's real deceptive and he definitely keeps you off-balance.
Just when you think you know what he's going to throw you, he
throws you something completely different. But he's been doing it
for so long, that's his game.''

Appier gave up a two-out single and two walks in the seventh
before Al Levine struck out Brandon Inge. Levine and Scot Shields
combined to finish the four-hitter, sending the Tigers to their
seventh shutout.

The Tigers also tied a season high with three errors and raised
their season total to a major league-leading 102, surpassing the
New York Mets.

"Everybody had a problem tonight,'' losing pitcher Mark Redman
said. "I didn't have my A stuff, and the boys had a little trouble
behind me. This just means I can get rid of the game socks I've
been using for two months. They've been getting some holes in
them.''

Redman (7-10) was charged with six runs -- five earned -- and nine
hits in four-plus innings after allowing no more than two earned
runs in any of his previous six starts. He failed to retire any of
the four batters he faced during a five-run fifth that increased
Anaheim's lead to 7-0.

One pitch after Darin Erstad's leadoff triple off Fick's glove,
Spiezio hit his seventh homer and eight of his career against the
Tigers -- the most he's had against any team. Anderson then homered
into the right field seats for his 20th of the season and 88th RBI.

Anderson is leading the Angels in home runs and RBI and batting
average (.313). The only players in club history to lead the team
in all three categories while playing in at least 100 games were
Wally Joyner (1987), Rick Reichardt (1968) and Chili Davis -- who
played in 108 games during the strike-shortened 1994 season.

"That's what I've been trying to do the last three or four
years -- become more of a complete hitter. And I'm just starting to
reap the benefits of all that work that I've been putting in,''
said Anderson, who played in his first All-Star game last month.
"I feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm just
hoping to keep up that pace.''

Redman walked his last batter, Troy Glaus, and Shawn Wooten
greeted reliever Adam Bernero with a single. Benji Gil followed
with what appeared to be a double-play grounder to third, but
second baseman Damian Jackson missed a perfect throw from Chris
Truby, allowing Glaus to score from second. Alex Ochoa capped the
rally with an RBI single.

The Angels opened the scoring in the first with a leadoff triple
by David Eckstein, followed by Erstad's sacrifice fly. They added
another run in the third when Spiezio singled, took third on
Anderson's league-leading 45th double and continued home as Fick
misplayed the ball in the right-field corner for his fifth error.

"I wanted to try to get him at second, but it just got away
from me,'' Fick said. "It hit the wall, and when it hit the ground
again, it kind of came up on me. But that's no excuse. I should
have had it.''

Game notes
Salmon missed his second game after getting hit on the left
hand Saturday by a pitch from Toronto's Steve Parris. ... Redman,
who has the second-worst run support in the AL, is 0-3 lifetime
against Anaheim with a 6.26 ERA. His 10-1 loss to the Angels on May
15 was the last of his six straight losing decisions to start the
season (eight starts). ... Tigers RHP Julio Santana underwent an
MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his sore elbow, the
results of which won't be known until Tuesday morning.