Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – Jered Weaver was simply dominant, allowing just one base runner in seven innings, as the Angels finally got their ace some run support in a 7-0 rout of the Cleveland Indians.
Weaver (12-11) got his first win since August 6, a span of six starts without a victory where the Angels scored seven total runs in that span. The MLB strikeout leader, though, allowed just a single while fanning seven to raise his punchout total to 218 on the season.
Juan Rivera and Hank Conger both drove in two runs for Los Angeles, which has won five of six.
Michael Brantley singled in the ninth to extend his hit streak to 15 for the Indians, who lost for the fourth time in six games. Jeanmar Gomez (3-4) was pounded for seven runs — six earned — on seven hits and three walks in three innings.
The Angels put seven runs on the board in the first two innings to essentially put the game away.
Bobby Abreu singled with one out in the opening frame and stole second. With two outs, Hideki Matsui drew a walk, and Rivera followed with an RBI single for the game’s first run. Eric Aybar drew a walk to load the bases for Howie Kendrick, who walked to force in a run. Conger capped the four-run inning with a two-run single to left.
In the next inning, Alberto Callaspo reached second on an error and scored on Hunter’s one-out base hit to center. Matsui belted his first triple of the season off the wall in center to plate Hunter, and then easily scored on Rivera’s single for a 7-0 game.
Meanwhile, Weaver dominated. The righty retired the first 11 batters he faced until Shin-Soo Choo singled with two outs in the fourth. Weaver finished his outing by setting down the final 10 hitters he faced, and Matt Palmer capped the game with two scoreless frames.
Abreu stole his 20th base, which gives him 20 for the 12th straight season, the longest active streak in the majors…The season series is tied, 4-4…Angels starting pitchers have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 14 of 18 games.