Indians 5, Angels 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Cleveland Indians scored four runs in the fourth inning and cruised the rest of the way to a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Monday night at Angel Stadium.
The Indians had five hits in the fourth inning off Angels starter Jered Weaver (7-7), the big blow being Lonnie Chisenhall's two-run home run. Carlos Santana (single) and Jason Giambi (sacrifice fly) drove in the other two runs. The Indians added a run in the ninth on a home run by Nick Swisher.
It was enough offense for Indians starter Zach McAllister (6-7), who gave up one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win. He struck out five and walked two. The Angels scored their only run against him on Mark Trumbo's RBI single in the fourth. Indians relievers Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith and Chris Perez combined to hold the Angels to one run in the final 2 2/3 innings, the run scoring on a homer by Trumbo (No. 29) in the ninth.
Weaver was coming off his worst start of the season, if not his career. He gave up nine runs in five innings in a loss to the Yankees last week. He pitched a little better Monday, but it wasn't nearly good enough. He gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings, striking out five and walking two.
With the win, the Indians moved to within four games of Tampa Bay for the second wild card spot in the American League. The loss dropped the Angels to 55-69, a season-worst 14 games below .500.
After three scoreless innings, the Indians broke through for four runs off Angels starter Jered Weaver in the fourth inning. Carlos Santana had an RBI single, Jason Giambi had a sacrifice fly and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run homer.
The Angels responded with one run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Mark Trumbo, but missed out on a chance for more when right fielder Nick Swisher threw out Trumbo trying to score from third on Chris Nelson's fly ball.
Replays appeared to indicate catcher Yan Gomes missed the tag, but plate umpire Dan Iassogna called Trumbo out and the Indians held a 4-1 lead.
NOTES: Angels OF Mike Trout left Sunday's game after the fifth inning because of a tight right hamstring and was given Monday off as a precautionary measure. Trout, who said he expects to play Tuesday, had missed only one other game this season. He hurt the hamstring running out a double in the third inning Sunday. ... Angels 1B/DH Albert Pujols will be shut down for the rest of the season. Pujols, who has been out since July 28 with a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot, had said he hoped to return before the end of the season. But after discussions with owner Arte Moreno, general manager Jerry Dipoto, manager Mike Scioscia and the medical staff, the decision was made to focus on being healthy for 2014. Pujos, 33, still has eight years and $212 million remaining on his contract. ... Indians LF Michael Brantley went into the game having played 212 consecutive games without an error, tying Rocky Calavito's franchise record. ... Indians RHP Corey Kluber, out since Aug. 5 with a sprained middle finger on his right hand, played catch from 150 feet with the finger taped, and from 60 feet without tape. Kluber, who is 7-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 21 games (19 starts), is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Aug. 21 but isn't expected to be ready by then.
