Angels’ Jered Weaver shuts down Indians, 3-0

CLEVELAND — It was hard to tell what Howie Kendrick was more proud of Monday, his first home run in two months or his second stolen base in three weeks.

Each led to a run, helping the Angels and ace right-hander Jered Weaver to a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians. But more important, Kendrick said, is the fact that by scoring with the long ball and with little ball the Angels are serving notice they can beat teams both ways.

“That’s classic Angel baseball right there,” Kendrick said. “That’s what we have to do to win. Not only do we have guys that hit for power, but we’ve also got guys that can get on base with a bunt. Or get walks here and there and steal some bases.”

Consider the weapons the Angels have to make that happen.

They have the American League’s best hitter and top base stealer in Mike Trout, who didn’t start Monday because of a bruised finger. But they also have slugger Mark Trumbo, who ranks among the league leaders in home runs and runs batted in.

They have Erick Aybar, who leads the majors in bunt hits and infield singles. Yet, since June 8, the Angels have also topped the majors in slugging percentage.

“You’re not going to go out and pound the ball every night,” said Manager Mike Scioscia, whose team had as many stolen bases (two) as extra-base hits Monday. “We’re going to have to scratch and claw. We didn’t kill the ball tonight. But we got enough to have a lead at the end of the night.”

Kendrick was responsible for most of that lead, breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth inning when he took a pitch from starter Ubaldo Jimenez off his elbow, then worked his way home by stealing second base, moving to third on a single and scoring on Aybar’s sacrifice fly.

Kendrick doubled the lead in the seventh inning, driving a 3-and-2 breaking pitch into the left-field stands. The Angels scratched out another run an inning later on a single and three walks, the final one with the bases loaded.

And given the way Weaver (9-1) was pitching, that was more than enough. Weaver faced only two batters over the minimum through the first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh inning when he loaded the bases on two walks and a hit.

But he stiffened, escaping the jam unharmed on a fielder’s choice, a foul pop and a terrific breaking pitch to strike out Shelley Duncan to end the inning.

When the Indians got their first two hitters on in the eighth inning, Scioscia summoned Scott Downs, who got a double play on his second pitch, then retired the next four men in order to record a six-out save and hand Cleveland only its second shutout loss of the season and first at home since September.

“What he did tonight was awesome,” Kendrick said of Weaver, who lowered his earned-run average to a league-best 2.13. “To be able to go out there, bases loaded, none out, and be able to work through that, keep his cool, execute. That’s what you look for in your ace guy. That’s why he’s our ace.”

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