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Jul 29, 2009 - 6:47 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (42-59) at Los Angeles (59-40), 3:35 p.m. EDT

Rallying from behind to win has been a characteristic of the Los Angeles Angels all season.

Meltdowns from All-Star closer Brian Fuentes is a trait the team would like to see stop.

Following another wild finish, the Angels look to win for the 14th time in 17 games when they wrap up a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

In Tuesday's 7-6 victory over the Indians (42-59), Los Angeles (59-40) entered the eighth inning trailing 4-3 before Juan Rivera's RBI single tied it and Gary Matthews Jr. delivered a three-run double to give the Angels their major league-leading 33rd comeback win.

"We're comfortable playing from behind," Matthews said. "We're able to manufacture runs. We're not dependent on homers."

While it was the latest of many remarkable rallies for Los Angeles, which is 13-3 since July 10, Fuentes nearly gave it away in the ninth.

Fuentes, the major league leader with 30 saves, gave up two runs, two hits and two walks without getting an out. Jason Bulger entered with the bases loaded and got three outs to earn his first major league save.

Fuentes' performance came one day after giving up two homers and four runs while blowing a save in Monday's 8-6 loss.

"(Fuentes) is getting a little bit tired," manager Mike Scioscia said. "The ball's not coming out like it normally does. ... He'll right his ship and get it back together. It just didn't look like he was comfortable out there."

While Fuentes is suddenly struggling, John Lackey (6-4, 4.22 ERA) looks to continue his dominance and win his fourth straight start.

After being tagged for six runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-5 loss to Texas on July 7, Lackey has yielded four runs and 13 hits in 23 2-3 innings in winning his last three starts. On Friday, the right-hander allowed two runs - both on solo homers to Joe Mauer - and four hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 6-3 victory over Minnesota.

"This is as good as John's thrown his whole career," Scioscia told the Angels' official Web site. "The last couple times out, he's been as good as ever."

That is lofty praise from Scioscia, considering Lackey became the first rookie since Bud Adams for the 1909 Pirates to win Game 7 of the World Series in 2002, and went 19-9 with a league-best 3.01 ERA in 2007, finishing third in AL Cy Young Award voting.

This will be Lackey's first start of the season against the Indians after posting a 7.36 ERA in winning both outings against them a year ago. He was backed by 14 runs of support in those games.

Cleveland saw its season-high five-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday.

While the winning streak was snapped, Jhonny Peralta had another strong performance, homering and driving in two runs. He is batting .522 (12 for 23) with three home runs and 12 RBIs in his last five games.

Peralta has been a tough out at Angel Stadium, batting .500 (14 for 28) with five home runs and 10 RBIs in seven games there since the start of last season. He is 10 for 23 (.435) with a double versus Lackey.

Aaron Laffey (4-2, 3.71) looks to build on one of the best starts of his career for Cleveland.

In Friday's 9-0 win over Seattle, he allowed three hits and struck out a personal-best seven in seven innings. The left-hander retired 17 of the final 18 batters.

Laffey wasn't as sharp in his last outing against the Angels on July 23, 2008, permitting eight runs and 12 hits in four innings of a 14-11 loss.