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Gutierrez helps Indians slip past Angels

Aug 17, 2008 - 9:40 PM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- A pair of college teammates turned back the clock to defeat the team with the best record in baseball.

Jeremy Sowers pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Jensen Lewis worked out of a jam in the ninth to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4-3, on Sunday.

It was the first time Anaheim (76-46) had lost a series to an American League opponent since being swept in a three-game set by the Tampa Bay Rays in May. The Angels had been 16-0-4 in their previous 20 series against teams from the AL, but an unlikely duo put an end to the streak.

Sowers and Lewis spent their college years pitching for Vanderbilt and were teammates during the 2003-04 seasons while leading the Commodores to the Super Regional in 2004.

"We went straight back to the college days," Lewis said. "Jeremy would start and I would finish."

Sowers (2-6) started slowly, allowing two runs in the first inning, but settled in afterwards. The lefthander held the Angels to three runs - two earned - and eight hits for his first win since July 19 at Seattle.

"It felt good," Sowers said. "A win is a win. The guys played a good game behind me and we got some really good relief pitching."

"I told Jeremy during the anthem, 'It was his day,'" Lewis said. "If Jeremy doesn't do what he did, we're not in the position to win."

Rafael Perez relieved Sowers and struck out three of the four batters he faced and Lewis escaped a jam in the ninth for his third save in four chances.

The Angels had runners on the corners with one out, but Lewis came back to retire Chone Figgins on a pop out and Erick Aybar on a lazy fly to left.

"Degree of difficulty, that is as high as it gets," Lewis said. "You have to go out there with no fear and hold nothing back."

"That was outstanding," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "You talk about the definition of a save that was it. (Lewis) showed some moxie there."

The Angels had chances to score throughout the game but went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

"We didn't swing the bats well at all this series," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. "We were fortunate to come away with a win. We weren't good with runners in scoring position. We had an opportunity late but we couldn't cash in win the game."

Cleveland took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on Grady Sizemore's RBI single. Sal Fasanao doubled off of reliever Justin Speier (1-6) and advanced to third on sacrifice bunt. Sizemore followed with a bloop single to plate the go-ahead run.

Franklin Gutierrez's first of three hits erased the Angels' 2-0 lead with a two-run single in the first off Joe Saunders. It was Gutierrez's fourth three-hit game of the season, but first since April 29.

"(Gutierrez) has been swinging the bat a lot better," Wedge said. "He looks more comfortable up there."

Saunders allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. The lefthander struck out two batters and walked two.

Mark Teixeira had two hits and an RBI for the Angels, who last lost a series June 27-29, when they dropped two of three to theLos Angeles Dodgers.

"You set the standard so high and you lose one series and you ask 'what's wrong'" Torii Hunter said. "That's what we're saying. We've been riding the wave so long. We have to get another wave."