Kluber Throws 3-Hitter; Indians Beat Slumping Angels 6-2
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Corey Kluber pitched a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and Jason Kipnis had three hits in the Cleveland Indians' 6-2 victory over the slumping Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
Mike Napoli doubled home the first run in a four-run first inning for AL Central-leading Cleveland, which has won eight of 10 in June. The Indians led 6-1 in the second inning while chasing Hector Santiago (3-4), who got just four outs in his shortest start of the season.
Yunel Escobar had two hits for the Angels (26-35), who lost their fifth straight to drop a season-worst nine games below .500.
Kluber (6-6) started the game by giving up Escobar's double off the wall in center field, but Los Angeles' next 17 batters couldn't get a hit off the right-hander.
Kluber retired 12 straight between a second-inning walk and Escobar's sixth-inning single, and he retired the Angels' final 11 batters in his ninth career complete game, his second of the season.
Kluber has been close to his old Cy Young form lately, winning four of his last five starts.
Mike Trout went 0 for 4 with an RBI groundout for the Angels, whose struggles continued in the opener of a six-game homestand after a brutal travel schedule. Less than 24 hours after losing their fourth straight game at Yankee Stadium, the Angels took their home field on the opposite coast and swiftly fell behind.
Santiago, who came home from New York a day early, bent over in pain after his 16th pitch, possibly tweaking his hamstring while moving to field a ball. The Angels' training staff kept him in the game, but the Indians battered him for six hits in their next eight plate appearances.
Napoli hurt his former team yet again with a run-scoring double before Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez followed with run-scoring hits. Cleveland added another when Escobar botched the throw to first on what should have been the third out.
Santiago was gone after giving up three straight hits, a sacrifice fly and a walk to start the third.
At least the Angels' bullpen was outstanding, with five relievers giving up three hits and facing just one batter over the minimum during 7 2/3 scoreless innings.
Escobar singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, but Kluber didn't allow another baserunner.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: SS Andrelton Simmons is close to returning from a left thumb injury, but it won't happen this weekend, manager Mike Scioscia said.
UP NEXT
Indians: Trevor Bauer (4-2, 3.88 ERA) won both of his career starts against the Angels.
Angels: Matt Shoemaker (3-7, 5.40 ERA) took a hard-luck loss earlier this week. He has 39 strikeouts since issuing his last walk, a franchise record.
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