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Matthews backs Weaver as Angels top Indians

May 10, 2007 - 5:58 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Jered Weaver kept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the game. Gary Matthews Jr. put them over the top.

Matthews blasted a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and Weaver tossed six solid frames as the Angels snapped a three-game losing streak Wednesday with a 3-2 victory over the red-hot Cleveland Indians.

Kendry Morales belted a game-tying two-run shot in the seventh for Anaheim, which had lost five of six contests entering Wednesday, failing to score more than three runs in all but one of those games.

"When I got called up I thought to myself that this was my opportunity to help the team out," Morales said through an interpreter. "This was very important for my confidence to come through for the team at that point in the game."

The Angels' offense continued to struggle in this one until the late innings. Erick Aybar led off the seventh with an infield single and Morales followed with a blast off Indians starter Paul Byrd to forge a 2-2 tie.

"I didn't get to see fastballs from him (Byrd) my other two at-bats, so I was looking for a fastball and I got it," Morales said.

Fernando Cabrera (1-2) relieved Byrd in the eighth and surrendered a solo shot to Matthews on the first pitch of the inning.

"I was looking dead-red fastball the whole time and I got what I was looking for and gave our team the lead we wanted," Matthews said. "We've been struggling lately so it felt good to contribute and help the team get a win."

Cabrera yielded two runs and a hit, striking out two and walking one in one inning.

"He (Cabrera) just has be ready to go right out of the bullpen because once he gets the call it's game on," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He left the pitch out over the plate, but after the home run he settled down and got us out of the inning."

Weaver set the tone for the game, allowing two runs - one earned - and six hits to finally put forth a stellar outing. The young righthander entered the game just 1-3 with a 5.12 ERA this season after posting an impressive 11-2 record in his rookie campaign.

"I feel great," Weaver said. "My pitch count got a little high after the first two innings, so all I wanted to do was make some adjustments and just throw strikes."

However, the 24-year-old Weaver left the game in line to suffer another loss before getting off the hook courtesy of Morales' homer.

"This is why we called him back up here," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Morales. "We're hoping he can produce for us and come through again in situations like this again."

Dustin Moseley (3-0) picked up the victory after allowing just one hit in two innings. Francisco Rodriguez tossed a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

Byrd pitched well, allowing just two runs and nine hits in seven innings while striking out three without a walk.

"I was in a good groove the whole game," Byrd said. "I knew that if I can just throw strikes and keep pitches around the zone that they would be aggressive."

It was the second straight time the veteran left with nothing to show for a strong effort. The righthander also did not figure in the decision against Baltimore on Friday, when he yielded just one run and six hits in 6 2/3 frames.

"It was a close game and all I wanted to do was give us a chance to get another win," Byrd said. "We just have to put this game behind us and be ready to come out here (Thursday) and win the series."

Victor Martinez had two hits and an RBI for Cleveland, which lost for just the fourth time in its last 17 games.