Indians 3, Angels 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Nick Swisher's two-run home run in the third inning gave the Cleveland Indians all the offense they would need to complete a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-1 win Wednesday afternoon at Angel Stadium.
The Indians are headed home after completing a successful road trip to Minnesota, Oakland and Anaheim, winning six of nine games. Wednesday's win moved them to within 2 1/2 games of Oakland for the second wild card spot in the American League.
Swisher's 15th home run of the season came after Michael Bourn led off the third inning with a triple against Angels starter Jerome Williams. The Indians managed only three more hits the rest of the game, but it didn't matter.
Indians starter Justin Masterson (14-9) took advantage of the depleted Angels lineup, giving up one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. His 14 wins are a career high. The Angels scored their only run off Masterson in the sixth inning on Hank Conger's RBI double. It snapped a consecutive scoreless innings streak by the Angels offense at 18, going back to the final 13 innings on Saturday.
Indians reliever Rich Hill, Cody Allen and Chris Perez (20th save) finished it up for Masterson.
Williams (5-10) didn't pitch poorly, giving up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, but his winless streak continued. He is 0-8 with four no-decisions in his last 12 starts. He hasn't won a game since June 12 at Baltimore, and he hasn't won at home since May 21 against Seattle.
Angels outfielder Mike Trout missed his third game in a row because of a sore right hamstring. With the team getting a scheduled day off Thursday, Trout will get a fourth day off. He is listed as day-to-day for Friday's game in Seattle. He has reached base by hit, walk or hit-by-pitch in 40 consecutive games.
NOTES: Angels RHP Billy Buckner was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to make his third stint with the big league club this season. He is 1-0 with a 4.67 ERA in seven appearances (two starts) for the Angels, including a win in a start against Kansas City on May 25. OF Collin Cowgill was optioned to Salt Lake to make room on the roster for Buckner. Cowgill hit .298 (14-for-47) in 25 games. ... Indians 2B Jason Kipnis was named to the All-Star team this year after hitting .301 with 13 homers, 57 RBIs, 53 runs and 21 stolen bases in the first half. Since the All-Star break, he's hitting .252 (30 for 119) with two homers, 15 RBIs, 12 runs and two stolen bases since the All-Star break. ... Bourn is the toughest hitter in the American League to double up. He has hit into one double play in 438 plate appearances this season.
