Cleveland Guardians vs Los Angeles Angels Match Player Stats On Sep 09, 2019

Yu Chang broke open a close game with a three-run homer in support of Shane Bieber, who threw seven strong innings in the Cleveland Indians' 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Chang's homer off Angels reliever Justin Anderson with two on and two outs in the sixth inning boosted the Indians' lead to 6-1. It was Chang's first career major league long ball, in his 15th game.

Meanwhile, Bieber cruised through a Los Angeles lineup that was missing center fielder Mike Trout, who is out with a nerve issue in his right foot. Trout is day-to-day.

Bieber gave up a home run to Albert Pujols in the second inning, but nothing else. After allowing two singles in the second after the homer, Bieber retired 17 of the next 18 hitters he faced through the end of the seventh, allowing only an infield single to Anthony Bemboom in the fifth.

Bieber (14-7) struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

The victory allowed Cleveland to move within a half-game of the Oakland A's for the second American League wild card.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Angels starter Patrick Sandoval (0-3). Francisco Lindor walked, went to second on a single by Oscar Mercado and scored one out later on a single by Yasiel Puig.

Sandoval escaped further damage when he got Jordan Luplow to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Cleveland increased its lead to 3-0 in the second when Franmil Reyes walked and scored on Jason Kipnis' two-run homer, his 17th of the season.

The Angels cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the second when Pujols homered, his 22nd of the season and No. 655 in his career, five short of tying Willie Mays for No. 5 on the all-time list.

Los Angeles' Jared Walsh homered leading off the eighth inning against Indians reliever Carlos Carrasco, his first major league home run.

--Field Level Media