(Sports Network) - The Angels haven't been swept by Cleveland at home in more than a decade. They'll try to avoid that distinction tonight in the finale of a three-game series from the Big A.
Anaheim was previously swept in this series from August 9-11, 1999 and suffered a 6-1 drubbing in Tuesday's second portion of this set. Trevor Bell earned the start for the Halos and suffered the loss for allowing the first two runs on four hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez was reached for four runs in the sixth inning.
"Trevor never got into a rhythm," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "We had one bad inning, and they were patient and got the home run. We have to clean some stuff up."
Reggie Willits had three hits and Torii Hunter cracked his 21st home run of the season for the Angels, losers in five straight at home and 15 of the past 21 games overall. LA, which is still 9 1/2 games behind Texas for the American League West lead, hasn't dropped six in a row as the host since 2002.
Since winning four consecutive starts in June, Angels starter Scott Kazmir has dropped three straight and eight of his previous nine trips to the hill with a 7.74 earned run average over that period. Kazmir will take the mound tonight and is coming off Friday's 8-0 loss at Oakland in which he tossed 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball and walked a season-high six batters.
The lefty is 8-13 with a 6.19 ERA in 23 starts this season and hasn't fared too well at home, going 2-7 in nine starts at the Big A. Kazmir is 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA in six career starts against the Tribe.
Cleveland has won two in a row and four of its last six games, and hasn't recorded a sweep since taking all four meetings with Detroit from July 16-18. In Tuesday's five-run victory over the Angels, Lou Marson hit a grand slam to highlight a five-run sixth inning and Travis Hafner led off the frame with a solo shot for the Indians.
Justin Masterson got the start for Cleveland and posted the win by holding Los Angeles to a run on six hits and two walks with five K's in seven frames.
"I had good control with my mechanics," Masterson said. "I kept the ball down in the zone, and I had some good defense. Things are coming together."
Rookie Josh Tomlin gets the starting nod for the Tribe tonight and he's aiming for his third straight victory. He defeated Seattle last Thursday at Safeco Field and hurled six innings of three-run ball while striking out five batters. The right-hander improved to 3-3 in seven starts with a 4.14 earned run average.
Tomlin is 1-2 in four away appearances this season and has never faced the Angels.
Anaheim took two of three at home over the Indians back in April and has won six of the last 10 overall meetings.