Anaheim, CA – Drew Stubbs smashed a two-run homer off Joe Blanton in the 14th inning to boost the Cleveland Indians to a 4-1 win over the Angels.
The Indians totaled eight hits on the night and were hitless in their first 19 at-bats with men on base. They stranded two men in scoring position in the 13th when Asdrubal Cabrera flied out, but capitalized the next frame.
Lonnie Chisenhall singled to center with one out and Stubbs belted a 2-2 offering off Blanton (2-14) to left-center to give the Indians their fifth victory in seven contests. They pulled within 5 1/2 games of Detroit for first place in the AL Central.
"It was a fastball, I knew I hit it good, but you never know," Stubbs said. "When I knew it was over the fence it was more relief. This would have been a tough game to lose."
Michael Bourn, who made a game-saving grab at the wall to rob Hank Conger of a potential winning hit in the 12th, scored Cleveland's final run thanks to a Blanton error. Bourn had an infield single, stole second and scored when Blanton threw high to first on Jason Kipnis' bouncer in front of the plate.
Carlos Carrasco (1-4), the ninth pitcher of the night for the Indians, earned his first victory since June 29, 2011. He put two men on base in the 14th before retiring the final two hitters to end the 5-hour, 17-minute contest.
The teams combined to go 1-for-18 with men in scoring position and stranded 29 runners, 17 by the Angels.
"That was just a really fun game to be a part of," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "There wasn't much offense going on, but both teams kept playing until the end. We had some guys dig pretty deep."
J.B. Shuck homered to right on Danny Salazar's second pitch of the night, but the Angels lost for the eighth time in 10 games.
"Joe has had a couple of rough outings this week and he had another one tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's had a rough time getting outs."
Cleveland's first run came on Carlos Santana's 15th homer of the year, a shot to center leading off the seventh. Peter Bourjos saw the ball go by his glove as he jumped at the fence. Bourjos' glove landed over the fence.
The Angels put two runners on base in the seventh, but Shuck grounded out to end the threat. Cleveland filled the bases the next inning, Dane De La Rosa struck out Yan Gomes.
Los Angeles had a rally going in the eighth, but with men at first and second, Josh Hamilton was picked off the lead base by an alert Joe Smith. Kole Calhoun singled to put runners at the corners, but Chris Nelson struck out swinging to send the game to the ninth.
Both teams had a runner in scoring position in the ninth. Cabrera made a sliding stop on a ground ball up the middle by Erick Aybar and threw to first to force extra innings.
The Angels filled the bases with nobody out in the 10th, but the Indians escaped the jam. Matt Albers fanned Nelson, Rich Hill retired Conger on an infield line out and Bryan Shaw struck out Grant Green. Conger was actually hit by a pitch on his knuckle, but because he offered on the squeeze play it was ruled a strike.
"We caught a break on the squeeze," Francona said.
With men on first and second in the 12th, Bourn saved the Indians by robbing Conger of a potential winning hit with his leaping grab.
Salazar allowed three hits and had seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings, while Angels starter C.J. Wilson yielded four hits and fanned five over 7 1/3 frames.
Game Notes
The Indians released starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on Tuesday ... Angels outfielder Mike Trout missed his second straight game due to a tight right hamstring ... The 14 defeats are a single season-high for Blanton, who had 13 combined with the Phillies and Dodgers last year ... The Angels have lost eight of their last nine home games.
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