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Morales drives in game-winning run as Angels edge Indians

Sep 9, 2007 - 4:10 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Kendry Morales' only hit was the most important one.

Morales drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim held on for a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.

In the 10th, Chone Figgins laced a leadoff double to right field and advanced to third on Orlando Cabrera's sacrifice fly against Rafael Betancourt (4-1). After red-hot Garret Anderson was intentionally walked, Morales hit a 1-2 pitch past first baseman Ryan Garko as Figgins scored the game-winning run.

"All I wanted to do was to get on base any way I could," Figgins said. "I got a good pitch to hit and drove it down the line."

Angels reliever Scot Shields (4-5) struck out three batters in 1 1/3 innings for the win.

"Good feeling for me to go out and see that I had my stuff working for me again after struggling lately," Shields said. "We just don't quit as a team."

Los Angeles starter John Lackey was solid, yielding one run and six hits with six strikeouts through seven innings.

"Felt like this was some of the best stuff I have had all year, and it's good to have good stuff this late in the season," Lackey said.

Justin Speier tossed a scoreless eighth before giving way to closer Francisco Rodriguez, who gave up the game-tying homer to Cleveland's Garko to open the frame and make it 2-2.

"We did a great job to just tie it up in the ninth off such a good closer," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We had other opportunities but they came up with that big hit."

It was Rodriguez's sixth blown save this campaign.

"Frankie is one of the best in the game, but everyone goes through tough stretches," Shields said. "He'll bounce back and be fine."

Cleveland had an opportunity to grab the lead when Rodriguez walked Grady Sizemore to load the bases. But Shields entered and fanned Asdrubal Cabrera to end the inning.

In the first inning, Anderson gave the Angels the early 1-0 lead when he singled to plate Figgins, who stroked a leadoff double to left off starter Jake Westbrook.

"Nothing more I can say about Garret," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We just hope he can keep riding his hot bat for a while."

Anderson is two shy of trying Tris Speaker's record of 14 consecutive games with an RBI set in 1928. Figgins singled with one out and came around on an RBI double down the left field line by Cabrera for a 2-1 advantage in the sixth.

"Good to be back in the lineup and help the team win," Figgins said. "We still know that Cleveland is a tough team and won't back down the next two games. We just have to keep playing good baseball."

Westbrook was also impressive, allowing just two runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out two.

"I felt strong out there," Westbrook said. "I got into a good rhythm and located my pitches. We just need to get ready to play (Saturday) and try to take the final two games of the series."

Sizemore had a run-scoring single in the fifth to tie the score at 1-1 for the Indians, who have dropped two straight to cut their lead in the American League Central to five games over the Detroit Tigers (76-65).