• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Indians-Angels Preview

Jul 28, 2009 - 7:02 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (42-58) at Los Angeles (58-40), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Cleveland Indians are finally finding ways to win, even while continuing to slash their payroll.

The Indians look to extend their season-high winning streak to six games when they continue a three-game road set against the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

With his team down two runs in the ninth inning, Victor Martinez hit a three-run homer off Los Angeles All-Star closer Brian Fuentes to help Cleveland (42-58) win 8-6 on Monday and improve to 6-1 on a nine-game road trip.

The latest victory came hours after the Indians traded slugger Ryan Garko to San Francisco for pitching prospect Scott Barnes.

"It's a little tough, but there's nothing we can do about it," said Martinez of seeing another Indians' regular traded.

Cleveland, which owns the third-worst record in the AL, already traded the versatile Mark DeRosa and reliever Rafael Betancourt over the last month. There's also a chance Martinez, an All-Star catcher, and Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee could be dealt before Friday's deadline.

"We're doing our job," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "But I have no ability to forecast whether or not we will have another move."

In the meantime, the Indians are playing their best baseball of a dismal season, batting .322 while outscoring Toronto, Seattle and Los Angeles 52-27 on the road swing.

Jhonny Peralta and Shin-Soo Choo each had four hits Monday for Cleveland, which is riding its longest winning road stretch since a 10-game run Aug. 8-Sept. 5. Peralta is 11 for 19 (.579) with two homers and 10 RBIs in his last four games.

Peralta is 4 for 12 with four doubles against the Angels' Jered Weaver (10-3, 3.57 ERA), who takes the mound looking to stay unbeaten since June 20.

Weaver hasn't factored in the outcome of his last two starts, but is 3-0 in his last six despite a 6.43 ERA. The right-hander allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings of a 6-5, 10-inning win over Minnesota on Thursday.

He's 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA in six starts versus the Indians, who counter with rookie David Huff (5-4, 6.39) as he faces the Angels for the first time.

The left-hander is coming off his fourth straight road win, allowing four runs and eight hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 5-4 victory at Toronto on Thursday. However, he has a 7.39 ERA in his last five outings overall.

Kendry Morales had two homers and Juan Rivera his 17th on Monday for Los Angeles, which has lost two in a row after winning a season-high eight straight and 12 of 13.

Morales, who has career highs of 20 home runs and 58 RBIs, has three homers in his last two games.

Fuentes, who leads the majors with 30 saves, converted his previous 17 chances prior to Monday.

"Those guys beat one of the best closers in our league, so give them a little credit," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Any pitcher who's out there, if you miss some spots to guys who are swinging the bat well, there's always a chance of something happening like what happened."