The Angels dropped snapped their five game winning streak by losing to the Indians 5-2 on Monday.
The Angels had ten hits, one more than the Tribe, but could only produce for two runs. They tied it up in the second with an RBI single by Jeff Mathis, but then left the bases loaded with two outs when Macier Izturis flied out to end the threat. The Angels were 2 for 13 with RISP and left nine men on base for the night, with eight stranded in the first five innings alone. Howie Kendrick added a solo shot in the eighth for the second run and was 3 for 4 on the night. Gary Matthews, Jr. was also back in the lineup for the first time in five games, but didn’t fare so well, going 0 for 4 with 2 K’s and committing a fielding error in right.
The box score for Santana looked good: three earned runs on seven hits with 8 K’s through seven innings. He lacked run support and took his fourth loss, though. The three earned runs came off two homers and he was also tagged for an unearned run in the second when Jhonny Peralta reached off Matthews Jr.’s error and came around to score.
The Angels can make it six of seven with a win tonight. They send Jered Weaver to the mound for his first start against the Tribe this season. Weaver is 2-1 in the past month but hasn’t pitched in nearly two weeks. He will face Matt Ginter, who is making just his second MLB start since 2005. He won his first start this year, but the Angels look to stop him and the Indians, who have a modest three-game win streak and have won seven of their last eight.
