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Angels' Weaver gets second career shutout

Aug 20, 2009 - 2:57 AM CLEVELAND(AP) -- Jered Weaver dealt with adversity and delivered a shutout.

Weaver bounced back from one of his worst starts ever to pitch his second career shutout as the Los Angeles Angels won their fifth in a row, 3-0 over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.

"He was terrific," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He made 116 pitches and still had something left in his tank. I like how he finished strong. You break down his last 10 to 12 pitches and he turned it up."

Weaver (13-4) gave up seven hits only five days after being pounded for nine hits and eight runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 16-6 loss at Baltimore.

"That last outing was just one of those things you have to deal with in a career," Weaver said. "I didn't worry about it. I threw strikes. That was the difference."

With closer Brian Fuentes having worked each of the four previous days, Scioscia said before the game he hoped Weaver could work deep into the game.

"That's as deep as you can get," Scioscia said after Weaver threw 72 strikes and didn't allow a runner past second base. The Indians never had more than one runner on at a time against the right-hander, who walked one, struck out three, and matched his career-high win total set in 2007.

Weaver improved to 6-2 in 12 starts since shutting out San Diego, 6-0 on June 14. The complete game was his fourth, one behind AL leaders Zack Greinke of Kansas City and Roy Halladay of Toronto.

"He was using his fastball early and then throwing his changeup and curveball in hitters' counts," said Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who had two hits and is hitting .588 (10 for 17) in five games against the Angels. "He was hitting the inside corner and the outside corner."

Indians starter Jeremy Sowers (4-9) was nearly as efficient against the Angels, who hit .338 with 65 runs in their previous eight games. He held them hitless until the fifth, when they scored all their runs.

The Angels improved to 27-11 against left-handed starters, 22-6 in their last 28 road games and 24-8 since the All-Star break.

Kendry Morales got the Angels' first hit, a double off the left-field wall after Mike Napoli opened the fifth with a walk. Howie Kendrick followed with a ground single up the middle that scored both runners for a 2-0 lead.

Erick Aybar beat out a bunt for a single, then Chone Figgins bunted both runners ahead. Bobby Abreu added a run-scoring groundout.

"We bunched some stuff together," Scioscia said. "Sowers has pitched some terrific games against us. He was good."

Kendrick was the only batter in Los Angeles' lineup who started the game hitting under .300, at .275. In a 5-4 win Tuesday, all nine players in the Angels' order ended the game hitting .300 or better. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that marked the first time it had happened at least 100 games into a season since the 1934 Detroit Tigers did it.

"That's an extremely difficult lineup to face," Sowers said. "On top of that, they play small ball better than anyone in the league. Even when they only get four hits like tonight, they make the best of it with bunting and moving guys over."

Sowers gave up three runs and four hits over 6 2-3 innings, falling to 2-2 in five starts since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on July 25. The left-hander struck out two and tied a season high with five walks.

Chris Perez struck out two over 1 1-3 innings of perfect relief for Cleveland. The right-hander has fanned 15 and not allowed a run over his last 13 outings, covering 13 1-3 innings.

NOTES: Indians DH Travis Hafner doubled with two outs in the ninth, snapping an 0-for-14 slide. ... Cleveland recalled 1B-OF Matt LaPorta from Triple-A Columbus and placed OF Trevor Crowe on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique. ... Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero went 0 for 4. He had hit safely in 13 games since coming off the disabled list Aug. 4, batting .392 with six homers and 10 RBIs in that span. ... The Angels have gone 61 innings without an error and have made only one miscue in nine games. ... Indians rookie OF Chris Gimenez is in a 1-for-31 (.032) slump. ... The Indians are homerless in eight straight games at Progressive Field, their longest home drought since 1991, when they went 13 games without a homer at old Cleveland Stadium.