Cleveland @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 27, 2010 ) Cleveland 9, LA Angels 2
Austin Kearns has found some magic just outside the Magic Kingdom. Kearns has become a major force in an otherwise dormant Cleveland Indians’ lineup.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound left fielder is off to a sensational start in this final series of a three-team, nine-game road swing against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who play in the shadow of Disneyland at Angel Stadium.
Kearns led Cleveland’s 18-hit attack in Tuesday’s 9-2 victory with a home run, two doubles and five RBIs. The effort marked his biggest day since driving in a career-high six runs on Aug. 19, 2005 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In fact, Kearns' homers in back-to-back games are the first for the Kentucky native since Sept. 24-25, 2007. He leads the Indians with a .386 average and has nine hits in his last 18 at-bats - including a 6-for-10 effort in the first two games of this series.
Now, the Indians hope Jake Westbrook can help them win the series Wednesday night.
Westbrook (0-2, 5.82 ERA) has not been able to record strikeouts and it cost him in a loss to the Oakland Athletics in his last start. Westbrook is 3-5 with a 3.11 ERA in nine career starts against the Angels.
Hideki Matsui is 5-for-11 (.455) lifetime against Westbrook with three doubles and Torii Hunter is 10-for-41 (.244).
Westbrook will oppose right-hander Ervin Santana (1-2, 4.73).
Santana threw a four-hitter two starts ago in a 3-1 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays. He retired 16 consecutive batters in that game, struck out six and walked one. He kept the Blue Jays scoreless until Adam Lind hit a two-out homer in the ninth.
That has been a problem for Santana. Almost a quarter of Santana’s 25 hits allowed this season have been homers. He has given up six blasts in 26 2/3 innings.
Santana has not had much luck against Cleveland. He's 0-6 with a 6.03 ERA in seven career starts.
Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore is 4-for-18 (.222) all-time against Santana, but three of his four hits have gone for extra bases. Russell Branyan has two doubles and two walks in six career at-bats against Santana.
Indians closer Kerry Wood, 32, threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday and will throw another one Friday. Wood has an upper back injury and could be about two weeks away from being activated, according to manager Manny Acta.