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Mathis, Kotchman lead Angels over Indians

Jul 24, 2008 - 12:08 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The best team in the major leagues did not need a dominant outing by ace John Lackey. Instead, it was the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's offense that helped them build a 10-game lead in the American League West Division.

Jeff Mathis had four hits and six RBI, while Casey Kotchman went 5-for-5 as the Angels pounded out a season-high 19 hits and took the rubber match of the three-game set against the Cleveland Indians, 14-11, on Wednesday.

"We are close to being a productive offense and we are heading in the right direction," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We just need to concentrate on how we play on the field and not worry about anyone else."

Trailing, 6-5, in the fifth, the Angels used a five-run rally to secure their fifth win in six games after the All-Star break.

Tom Mastny relieved Indians starter Aaron Laffey and surrendered a grand slam by Mathis after Gary Matthews Jr. had walked with the bases loaded to force in the tying run.

"I have been working hard and it's finally good to see some results the last two days," said Mathis, who homered and drove in two runs in Tuesday's victory. "I have just been tweaking and making some adjustments in my swing. Right now, it feels good, and (I'm) just trying to get into a rhythm. I'm just happy that I helped contribute to the win today for our team."

Laffey (5-7) was tagged for eight runs and 12 hits in four-plus ineffective innings.

"I made good pitches, but they placed the ball where the defense wasn't," Laffey said. "It was the best command I had in my past few starts, but it was just one of those games when whatever I threw, it was hit. Today just wasn't my day."

Howie Kendrick, who collected four hits, added a two-run single in the seventh to extend Anaheim's lead to 14-7 before Cleveland scored three in the eighth and one in the ninth.

"Those guys didn't quit and we ended up needing every hit today to hold them off," Kendrick said. "I was just trying to be patient today and drive the ball into gaps and get on base."

Relievers Darren O'Day and Jose Arredondo combined to surrender five runs in 2 2/3 innings, but Francisco Rodriguez got the final out in the ninth to notch his major league-leading 42nd save.

"We played all the way through and it was a good moral victory for the guys in the clubhouse after having an opportunity to get back in the game," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

Lackey (8-2) allowed six runs and eight hits in five pedestrian innings but notched his seventh win in eight decisions.

"I didn't do a very good job getting ahead of their hitters, and today I just didn't locate my fastball," Lackey said. "The guys picked me up and swung the bats great today."

Ryan Garko blasted a two-run homer off Lackey to snap a 2-2 tie in the fourth before the Angels rallied for three runs in the bottom half.

Andy Marte and Sal Fasano each delivered an RBI single in the fifth, but the Angels' uprising in the bottom of the frame gave them the lead for good.