Cleveland, OH – J.B. Shuck went 2-for-3 with two RBI and four other Los Angeles players contributed an RBI apiece as the Angels defeated the Cleveland Indians, 7-2, in the middle test of a three-game set.
Erick Aybar, Chris Nelson, Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun each drove in a run for the Angels. Chris Iannetta walked three times and scored twice in the victory.
C.J. Wilson (12-6) needed 117 pitches to get through 5 1/3 innings, but it was enough to pick up the win. He allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks. The 32-year-old southpaw has not lost since July 5 against the Red Sox and has won eight of his last 11 starts.
Michael Bourn and Drew Stubbs had an RBI apiece for the Indians, who have lost six straight to fall eight games behind the Tigers atop the AL Central and four games behind the Athletics for the second wild-card spot.
"How you handle frustrations is how your season is defined," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "When we play as a team, we're pretty good, so that's what we have to do. We just have to grind through it."
Starter Ubaldo Jimenez (8-7) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings.
In the second, Yan Gomes hit a one-out double and Mike Aviles' single to left put runners at the corners. Stubbs plated Gomes with an infield single.
However, in the third, Trout tied the game at 1-1 when he scored Iannetta on a grounder to third with the bases loaded.
The Angels took the lead two innings later. Iannetta walked to start the frame and Grant Green delivered a bunt single. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Shuck and Calhoun gave them a 3-1 lead.
Bourn scored Gomes with an RBI single up the middle with one out in the sixth and with a slim 3-2 lead, Wilson was taken out of the game.
Los Angeles pulled away in the eighth. With runners on second and third, Aybar hit a chopper over reliever Bryan Shaw's head. Jason Kipnis caught the ball, but his throw to home was off the mark, allowing Josh Hamilton and Mark Trumbo to score. After Cody Allen replaced Shaw, Aybar scored on Nelson's base hit to center field.
Iannetta walked and Green singled to center, loading the bases and Shuck capped the inning by scoring Nelson with a sac fly.
Five Angels relievers combined to pitch perfectly through the final 4 2/3 innings, with Kevin Jepsen striking out the side in the eighth and Ernesto Frieri finishing Cleveland off in the ninth.
"They're a bunch of individuals that make that group, but there's nothing like success to make you feel good about where you need to be," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "We got some good arms in that bullpen and they can shut down in both leagues."
Game Notes
Prior to the contest, the Angels placed infielder Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list and selected the contract of pitcher Buddy Boshers from Triple-A Salt Lake ... Trout has reached base safely in 40 straight games, the first Angels player to do since Orlando Cabrera set the club record with 63 from April 5-July 6, 2006 ... Trumbo has 15 RBI over his last 19 games ... The season series is tied at 5-5 ... Cleveland's Justin Masterson is scheduled to start against Los Angeles' Jerome Williams in Sunday's series finale.
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