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Angels' Santana no-hits Tribe

Jul 27, 2011 - 9:52 PM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Ervin Santana tossed the eighth no-hitter in Angels franchise history in a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Santana (6-8) gave up an unearned run in the first inning thanks to an error and a wild pitch. He struck out 10 and walked one en route to his 11th career complete game.

The right-hander became the fifth Angels pitcher to record a no-hitter, joining Bo Belinsky, Clyde Wright, Nolan Ryan and Mike Witt. Ryan threw four of his seven career no-hitters in an Angels uniform, while Witt's gem was a perfect game against Texas in the 1984 season-finale. The club also had a combined no-hitter by Mark Langston and Witt in 1990.

Santana's no-hitter was the third of 2011. Minnesota's Francisco Liriano had the first on May 3 against the White Sox and Justin Verlander of Detroit followed four days later against Toronto.

The 28-year-old Dominican almost lost the no-hit bid in the sixth. Cleveland's Jason Kipnis smoked a grounder up the middle, but second baseman Howie Kendrick made a diving stab on the outfield grass and fired the ball to first to beat Kipnis by a step to preserve the feat. Santana retired 22 consecutive hitters before walking Lonnie Chisenhall with one out in the eighth.

"I think what Ervin did today you have to really appreciate it more because it's a close game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "First you're trying to win the game, and secondary is really what the results going to be, which was a no-hitter."

It was the first time the Indians have failed to record a hit since the Yankees' Jim Abbott twirled a no-hitter September 4, 1993 and the 11th time the Tribe has been no-hit in franchise history. It was also the first no- hitter in Progressive Field history.

"I (didn't) have any wins against them and this win was my first one," Ervin Santana said. "I been pitching good against them so I don't have bad luck, I got it today."

Cleveland starter David Huff (1-1) did not pitch poorly in defeat, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and did not issue a walk.

The Angels snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth. Torii Hunter opened the inning with a double off the wall in center, moved to third when Kendrick singled and scored when Joe Smith's 1-1 offering to Peter Bourjos deflected off Carlos Santana's glove up the first-base line for a passed ball with two outs.

Kendrick helped manufacture an insurance run in the ninth. He worked a leadoff walk, then stole second and raced to third when Carlos Santana's throw sailed into the outfield. Bourjos followed with a single up the middle to score Kendrick.

Ervin Santana then had little trouble completing his gem in the bottom of the ninth. He fanned pinch-hitter Travis Buck and got Ezequiel Carrera on a weak grounder to second before Michael Brantley flied harmlessly to center.

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first. Carrera reached on an error by shortstop Erick Aybar to open the frame, then stole second and moved to third when Asdrudal Cabrera grounded out. Carrera then scored when Ervin Santana threw a wild pitch that skipped back to the screen.

The Angels tied the game in the fifth. Bourjos laced a leadoff triple off the left field wall and scored on a Michael Trout sacrifice fly to right-center.

"Santana, I mean you know the story, no-hitter, he was tremendous," said Indians' manager Manny Acta. "Good fastball, good slide and just attacked the zone." Game Notes

Ervin Santana had taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his last outing five days ago against Baltimore. He improved to 1-6 lifetime against the Indians...Cleveland committed five errors...The Angels won for the 12th time this season while scoring three runs or less...Cleveland has dropped six of its last seven contests.