Sweeney and Carpenter each homer and combine to drive in 11 as Tigers pound Angels 13-1

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Trey Sweeney and Kerry Carpenter each homered and had four hits, and they combined to drive in 11 runs as the Detroit Tigers pounded the Los Angeles Angels 13-1 on Sunday to win three of four in the series.

After Sweeney singled in the first run off Jack Kochanowicz (1-5) in the second inning, Carpenter made it 3-0 with a two-run double to the right-field wall that Jo Adell kept inside the park but couldn't catch.

Carpenter's eighth homer was a three-run shot off reliever Michael Darrell-Hicks for an 8-0 lead in the sixth. Sweeney homered off Jose Fermin with two on in the seventh and added a two-run single in the eighth off Touki Toussaint. Sweeney finished with six RBIs and Carpenter drove in five — both career highs.

Colt Keith hit a two-run homer, his third, for a 5-0 lead in the third.

Reese Olson (4-2) tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out eight. Brenan Hanifee allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings. Beau Brieske and Will Vest closed it out.

Zach Neto had two hits and drove in the lone run for Los Angeles. Kochanowicz was tagged for five runs in five innings.

The Angels, last in the AL West, are 1-3 to begin a 10-game homestand.

Carpenter's fifth double this season ignited the AL Central-leading Tigers in the middle of a 10-game trip that saw them lose two of three to the Astros on the first stop.

The Angels have scored five runs just twice in their last 21 games.

Tigers: At Colorado for a three-game series starting Tuesday night.

Angels: Host Toronto for three games beginning Tuesday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene, left, is forced out at second as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto throws out Spencer Torkelson at first during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Detroit Tigers catcher Tomás Nido, left, and pitcher Will Vest congratulate each other after the Tigers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 13-1 in a baseball game Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring on a single by Trey Sweeney during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter, center, is congratulated by Javier Báez, left, and Tomás Nido after hitting a three-run home run as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe kneels at the plate during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter, right, hits a two RBI double as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe watches during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver (13-3)

Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 12 1/2.

Against the spread: Chargers 8-7-1; Broncos 6-9-1.

Series record: Broncos lead 72-58-1.

Last meeting: Chargers beat Broncos 23-20 on Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, California.

Last week: Chargers lost to Texans 20-16; Broncos beat Chiefs 20-13.

Chargers offense: overall (12), rush (12), pass (15), scoring (T-16).

Chargers defense: overall (4), rush (9), pass (6), scoring (7).

Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (19), pass (9), scoring (14).

Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (2), pass (8), scoring (4).

Turnover differential: Chargers plus-4 ; Broncos minus-5.

QB Trey Lance is making his sixth career start and first for the Chargers. He's appeared in three games this season, completing 7 of 13 passes for 90 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and two sacks.

WR Courtland Sutton surpassed 1,000 yards last week, but he dropped a touchdown pass and caught just four of the 10 passes Bo Nix threw his way. Sutton has 73 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven TDs this season, a similar output to last year when he caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight TDs.

The Chargers offensive line and backup QB versus Denver's dominant pass rush. The Broncos have had a franchise-record and NFL-best 64 sacks so far and are within striking distance of the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, who had a dozen in their season finale that year.

Chargers: Coach Jim Harbaugh said he's sitting QB Justin Herbert (left hand) for the finale along with several other starters. Rookie RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed practice time this week as did CB Nikko Reed (hamstring) and OL Jamaree Salyer (hamstring). Harbaugh said he doesn't expect Salyer to play Sunday.

Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury and won't play in the finale. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), TE Nate Adkins (knee) and DL John Franklin-Meyers (hip) were limited in practice this week.

The Chargers have won all three games against Denver and Sean Payton with Jim Harbaugh as head coach. All three have been one-score games.

The Chargers clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season, the first time that's happened since they reached the postseason four consecutive times from 2006-09. ... The Bolts are coming off a 20-16 loss to Houston in which they were 2 of 5 in the red zone while the defense allowed a pair of rare long touchdown passes to open the game. K Cameron Dicker missed a field goal from inside 40 yards for the first time in his career and pulled an extra point wide for the first time this season. ... The Chargers are the only team that's unbeaten (5-0) in the AFC West this season. ... RB Omarion Hampton has a touchdown in three of his past four games. ... WR Quentin Johnston is coming off a 98-yard performance in Week 17. ... WR Keenan Allen had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 3. ... The Broncos were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and can earn the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win Sunday. The Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the division. ... Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 23. With a win Sunday, he'll tie Russell Wilson's NFL record of 24 wins in his first two seasons. ... Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. ... Nix is the third player ever, joining Herbert and Peyton Manning, with 3,500-plus passing yards and 25 or more TD passes in each of his first two NFL seasons. ... RB RJ Harvey leads rookies with a dozen TDs this season. He's scored a TD in five consecutive games. ... LB Nik Bonitto had two sacks in Week 3 against the Chargers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden (86) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)