Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Lou Marson’s first career grand slam highlighted a five-run sixth inning, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 6-1 victory over the struggling Los Angeles Angels in the middle test of a three- game set.
Travis Hafner added his 11th homer of the season for the Indians, who have won the first two games of this series. Jordan Brown and Michael Brantley each added two hits in the win.
Justin Masterson (6-12) continued the Indians’ string of good starting pitching, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks while fanning five in seven frames. Cleveland starters have now allowed three or fewer runs in 12 of 13 games.
Torii Hunter homered for the Angels, who have lost five straight at home for the first time since April 28-May 2, 2006. With 15 losses in 21 games, Los Angeles has fallen 9 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West.
Trevor Bell (2-5) pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and three walks to receive the loss.
After the Angels tied the game in the fifth, the Indians used a couple big swings to go ahead for good in the sixth.
Hafner began the inning with a blast just over the large wall in right-center. The umpires needed to review it despite initially ruling it correctly, and the replay confirmed the result.
Brown singled two batters later off Francisco Rodriguez, who relieved Bell, and Rodriguez issued consecutive walks to Jason Donald and Luis Valbuena to load the bases with one out. Marson followed by belting a waist-high fastball just over the left-field wall for a grand slam and 6-1 lead.
Masterson and the Indians bullpen held the Angels scoreless down the stretch.
The Indians got on the board in the third on Shin-Soo Choo’s sacrifice fly, but Hunter tied the game in the fifth on a long home run to center.
The Indians lead the season series, 3-2…Angels pitcher Scot Shields (elbow) left the game…With wins in the first two games of this series, the Indians clinched their first series victory in Anaheim since May 9-11, 2005…Marson also threw out 2-of-2 potential base stealers, raising his season total to 23- of-63, the best percentage in the majors…Angels starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 10 of 12 games.