Cleveland @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 26, 2010 ) Cleveland 2, LA Angels 5
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim opened the first of a three-game homestand with an easy 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The Angels pounded out a season-high 15 hits - 12 against starter David Huff, who gave up all five runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Six Angels had at least two hits on Monday, and No. 9 hitter Brandon Wood was 3-for-4. Torii Hunter hit a pair of doubles, Bobby Abreu belted a two-run homer and Erick Aybar led off the game with a solo shot.
Cleveland remained in the game thanks to six walks issued by the Angels bullpen. Starter Jered Weaver (3-0) allowed one walk in six innings and struck out seven.
The Indians will try to slow the Angels on Tuesday night, sending young right-hander Mitch Talbot (2-1, 2.25 ERA) against left-hander Joe Saunders (1-3, 5.82 ERA).
Talbot was acquired last December as the player to be named later in the trade which sent catcher Kelly Shoppach to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 26-year-old right-hander from Cedar City, Utah, is making just his fifth career start in the majors and first against the Angels.
Talbot sprained his right elbow in 2009 and also had trouble with his right shoulder and ended up pitching in the minors. He was known for a changeup – Baseball America rated his changeup the best in the Astros’ organization in 2005 - but said it never was effective in Arizona. He tried using his changeup again in spring training, but said it was not what he liked it to be.
Talbot had a complete-game victory over the Chicago White Sox on April 16. He permitted six hits and one earned run. Last Thursday, he threw six innings of two-hit ball in an 8-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins and allowed no earned runs, striking out three and walking three.
Saunders lasted only 2 2/3 innings on Thursday in a 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers, allowing five runs on six hits — four doubles — with two walks. Saunders has five career starts against Cleveland, going 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA. Jhonny Peralta, who had an RBI single Monday, is 6-for-15 (.400) lifetime against Saunders, including two home runs.
Angels first baseman Kendry Morales was selected AL player of the week for the second time in his career Monday. In seven games for the Angels, Morales hit a major-league best .542 (13-for-24) with seven runs scored, three home runs and an American League-leading 10 RBIs.