It took 3 extra innings, but the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Cleveland Indians by the score of 4-3. The win gives the Angels 6 wins out of their last 8 games and moves them to within 2 games of AL West division-leading Texas.
Jeff Mathis, who had entered the game in the 11th inning, hit a bases loaded sacrifice fly to center field scoring Vernon Wells from third. The one-out, 12th inning rally started with a single to left-field by Wells and was followed by a walk to Alberto Callaspo. Wells' single was only his fifth hit in 49 at-bats. Chad Durbin, the fifth Indian pitcher of the night, allowed the runners to move up on a wild pitch and then intentionally walked Mark Trumbo. Mathis then sent a fly ball to medium center field scoring Wells and giving Hisanori Takahashi his first win of the season.
Once again, Ervin Santana pitched well enough to win, allowing three runs on 6 hits over 7 innings, and it looked like he was going to get his first career win against the Indians. After giving up a single to Adam Everett to leadoff the 8th innings, Santana was relieved by Scott Downs who then gave up a single, a fielder's choice, a wild pitch, and finally a run scoring groundout that tied the game at three.
The Angels scored three of their runs in the 4th when Howard Kendrick belted a double into the left-center gap and then scored when Asdrubal Cabrera threw the ball into the Indian dugout. Bobby Abreu followed with walk and scored on Torii Hunter's third homerun of the season, giving the Angels a 3-1 lead. Hunter's home run was the 15th hit by the Angels this season, yet only the second with a runner on base.
The Angels begin a 6-game road trip against the White Sox on Friday followed by a 3-games series in Texas.