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Weaver helps Angels blank Indians

Jul 3, 2012 - 4:29 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Jered Weaver pitched seven-plus innings of shutout ball as the LA Angels of Anaheim took a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a three-game set.

Weaver (9-1) gave up five hits and walk three while striking out two to win his fourth straight decision for the Angels, who have won six of their last eight games. Howie Kendrick hit a solo home run and scored twice while Erick Aybar went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

"He had some tough hitters over there who can put the ball in play," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia about Weaver. "He used all his pitches there and did a good job of keeping them off-balance all night."

Shin-Soo Choo had two of the five hits for the Indians, who had won three of four coming in. Ubaldo Jimenez (7-7) gave up three runs on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings.

"Ubaldo pitched well again for us tonight," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta. "We can count on him to do that every five days. Unfortunately, we couldn't get anything going for him at the plate."

The Angels opened the game with an infield single from Aybar, but he was quickly caught stealing. Torii Hunter then singled and, after Albert Pujols flied out, Kendrys Morales doubled to put men on second and third, but Mark Trumbo flied out to end the frame.

Pujols was left on third in the fourth inning while the Indians managed just one baserunner through the first four innings.

In the fifth, the Angels worked a run across. Kendrick was hit by a pitch to start the frame and moved to third on a Bobby Wilson single. Aybar then lofted a sac fly to center that scored Kendrick for a 1-0 lead.

The Indians were retired in order in the fifth and a double play from Jack Hannahan followed a Shelley Duncan walk in the sixth.

Kendrick hit his fifth homer of the year in the seventh, a one-out shot over the left field wall, for a 2-0 lead.

The Indians appeared poised for a big seventh inning as their first three batters reached base to load them up with no outs, but they came away empty- handed.

Jason Kipnis walked, Michael Brantley singled and Carlos Santana walked to fill the bags. Johnny Damon then hit a sharp grounder to third that Alberto Callaspo fielded cleanly and went home for the force out. Casey Kotchamn then popped a foul behind the catcher that was grabbed by Bobby Wilson and Duncan struck out swinging to end the inning.

Callaspo drew a bases loaded walk with two outs in the eighth to give the Angels a 3-0 lead.

Scott Downs took over for Weaver with two on and no out in the eighth and got Asdrubal Cabrera to hit into a double play before Kipnis flied out to end the inning.

Downs then set the Indians down in order in the ninth for his seventh save of the season.

Game Notes

Angels center fielder Mike Trout was not in the starting lineup due to a sore right pinkie finger. He entered the game as a pinch-runner in the eighth...The Indians took two of three from the Angels in Cleveland in late April...Weaver improved to 6-2 in 14 career starts against the Indians...Jimenez fell to 0-2 in two career starts against the Angels...Dan Haren pitches for the Angels on Tuesday while Zach McAllister toes the mound for the Indians.