Guardians 1 - 2 Angels
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Sizzling Indians hand ball to Masterson against Angels

May 6, 2011 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - Justin Masterson tries to win his sixth game of the season this evening when the red-hot Cleveland Indians open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Masterson has been a big part of the Indians' amazing surge, as the sinkerballing right-hander is 5-0 with a 2.25 earned run average. He did not get a decision on Sunday against Detroit, but turned in another quality outing, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits in seven innings of his team's 5-4 win.

With a win tonight Masterson will become the first Indians pitcher since Cliff Lee to win his first six decisions, a feat Lee accomplished back in his AL Cy Young Award winning season of 2008.

Masterson has had success against the Angels over the course of his career, posting a 2-0 mark to go along with a 2.70 ERA in seven games, four of which have been starts.

The Indians continued to roll on Thursday, as Jack Hannahan drove in a run and scored the eventual game-winner in the top of the 12th inning, helping Cleveland to a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics in the rubber match of a three-game series at the Coliseum.

Lou Marson went 3-for-5 with an RBI while Asdrubal Cabrera had a pair of hits and knocked in two runs for the Indians, who have won eight of their last nine games.

"We had quality at-bats throughout the whole game," Marson said. "We've been playing well and we just try to have quality at-bats and stick to our strengths."

Chad Durbin (2-1) got the win for the Indians, pitching two shutout extra innings, while Chris Perez notched his ninth save of the season despite giving up a run in the 12th.

The Angels, meanwhile, return home after going 4-3 on a seven-game road trip that saw them win the final two games in Boston. On Thursday the Halos capped the trip in winning fashion, as they banged out 18 hits in an 11-0 rout.

Joel Pineiro (1-0) pitched 5 2/3 in his second start of the season and combined with Rich Thompson and Francisco Rodriguez on the team's third shutout of the season.

Erick Aybar had four hits, an RBI and two runs scored, Mark Trumbo belted a two-run homer, and Bobby Abreu drove in three runs for the Angels, who won a close to eight-hour 13-inning, rain-delayed marathon the night before.

Hoping to keep the Angels in the win column this evening will be rookie right- hander Tyler Chatwood, who is 2-1 with a 4.94 ERA. Chatwood did not get a decision on Sunday against Tampa, as he allowed five runs and nine hits in four innings of his team's 6-5 win.

Chatwood lost his big league debut to the Indians back on April 11, as he surrendered four runs and four hits in five innings.

The Angels took two of three from the Tribe earlier in the year.






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