Afterward, after the Angels lost to Detroit 6-2Thursday, after a first inning that looked more like a first round, the left-hander fittingly likened the experience to a fight.
“They came out, punched me right in the mouth,” Heaney said of the Tigers. “Took me a bit to kind of regain and start making some better pitches.”
Heaney had produced quality starts in each of his past five outings and hadn’t allowed more than two runs in a game since April 20. His earned-run average during the latter stretch: 1.45.
Four pitches later, Nicholas Castellanos singled, pushing Heaney’s count to 45 and still he had retired only three batters.