GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (81-58) at LA ANGELS (82-57)

AL: CLEVELAND (81-58) at LA ANGELS (82-57)

<h3>Division leaders square off as Angels host Indians</h3>



<div class="pre">Cleveland (81-58) at LA Angels (82-57) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - Two of the hottest teams inbaseball face off on Thursday as the Los Angeles Angels ofAnaheim host the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a four-gameseries.


The Angels (81-58) have won seven of their last 10 games andhave the second-best record in baseball behind the Boston RedSox (84-56). Garret Anderson tied a franchise-record with anRBI in a 10th straight game Wednesday, but the Angels failed tocomplete a sweep of the Oakland Athletics in a 6-2 loss.

The Angels have a cushy 7 1/2-game lead over the SeattleMariners (74-64) in the American League West.


Meanwhile, the Indians (82-57) have won 11 of 12 and hold acomfortable seven-game lead over the Detroit Tigers (74-65) inthe AL Central. The Indians completed a three-game sweep of theMinnesota Twins on Wednesday.


Kenny Lofton and Victor Martinez each drove in a pair of runs,and Fausto Carmona pitched well into the eighth inning of a 6-2triumph. Cleveland has scored at least five runs in 10 of itslast 12 games.


Paul Byrd (14-5, 4.19 ERA) takes the mound for the Indiansagainst his former team, and is looking for his fifth straightwin. Byrd, who threw a four-hitter against the Chicago WhiteSox on Saturday, is 3-0 with a 3.89 ERA in six starts againstthe Angels. The righthander pitched for the California team inthe 2005 season, going 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA.


The Angels counter with Kelvim Escobar (15-7, 2.99), who had hispersonal four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday. Acandidate for the American League Cy Young Award, he allowedfive runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings in a 7-6 loss to theTexas Rangers.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT LA ANGELS -- LINEUPS

CLEVELAND LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .274 23 70 Gary Matthews Jr CF .258 18 71
Franklin Gutierrez RF .264 10 27 Orlando Cabrera SS .309 8 77
Travis Hafner DH .260 21 85 Garret Anderson LF .294 14 68
Victor Martinez 1B .305 21 100 Kendry Morales DH .322 3 11
Jhonny Peralta SS .270 18 66 Maicer Izturis 3B .276 5 44
Casey Blake 3B .268 15 66 Casey Kotchman 1B .290 9 59
Kenny Lofton LF .304 7 34 Howie Kendrick 2B .323 5 27
Kelly Shoppach C .274 6 26 Jeff Mathis C .246 4 20
Josh Barfield 2B .244 3 49 Reggie Willits RF .292 0 32

Paul Byrd RHP (14-5, 4.19) Kelvim Escobar RHP (15-7, 2.99)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT LA ANGELS -- REVISED LINEUPS

CLEVELAND LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .274 23 70 Gary Matthews Jr CF .258 18 71
Franklin Gutierrez RF .264 10 27 Orlando Cabrera SS .309 8 77
Travis Hafner DH .260 21 85 Garret Anderson LF .294 14 68
Andy Marte 1B .180 1 8 Kendry Morales DH .322 3 11
Jhonny Peralta SS .270 18 66 Maicer Izturis 3B .276 5 44
Casey Blake 3B .268 15 66 Casey Kotchman 1B .290 9 59
Kenny Lofton LF .304 7 34 Howie Kendrick 2B .323 5 27
Kelly Shoppach C .274 6 26 Jeff Mathis C .246 4 20
Josh Barfield 2B .244 3 49 Reggie Willits RF .292 0 32

Paul Byrd RHP (14-5, 4.19) Kelvim Escobar RHP (15-7, 2.99)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT LA ANGELS -- REVISED LINEUPS

CLEVELAND LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .274 23 70 Gary Matthews Jr CF .258 18 71
Franklin Gutierrez RF .264 10 27 Orlando Cabrera SS .309 8 77
Travis Hafner DH .260 21 85 Garret Anderson LF .294 14 68
Victor Martinez 1B .305 21 100 Kendry Morales DH .322 3 11
Jhonny Peralta SS .270 18 66 Maicer Izturis 3B .276 5 44
Casey Blake 3B .268 15 66 Casey Kotchman 1B .290 9 59
Kenny Lofton LF .304 7 34 Howie Kendrick 2B .323 5 27
Kelly Shoppach C .274 6 26 Jeff Mathis C .246 4 20
Josh Barfield 2B .244 3 49 Reggie Willits RF .292 0 32

Paul Byrd RHP (14-5, 4.19) Kelvim Escobar RHP (15-7, 2.99)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (14-5, 4.19)
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR (15-7, 2.99)

UMPIRES: HP - DALE SCOTT
1B - CHRIS GUCCIONE
2B - PHIL CUZZI
3B - TOM HALLION

WEATHER: 70 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 6 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR AND JEFF MATHIS

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.274, 23 HR, 70 RBI)
F GUTIERREZ (.264, 10 HR, 27 RBI)
T HAFNER (.260, 21 HR, 85 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G MATTHEWS JR (.258, 18 HR, 71 RBI)
O CABRERA (.309, 8 HR, 77 RBI)
G ANDERSON (.294, 14 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
K Morales dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Willits rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.19

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.97

Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 18-12. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 0-1.
Batters faced: K Escobar 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Dale Scott. 1B--Chris Guccione. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1
LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.305, 21 HR, 100 RBI)
J PERALTA (.270, 18 HR, 66 RBI)
C BLAKE (.268, 15 HR, 66 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - J Barfield (14, dropped foul ball).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .309
G Anderson lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
K Morales dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Willits rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.16

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.97

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 17-10; K Escobar 18-12. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 1-1; K Escobar 0-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 4; K Escobar 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Dale Scott. 1B--Chris Guccione. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 1
LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M IZTURIS (.276, 5 HR, 44 RBI)
C KOTCHMAN (.290, 9 HR, 59 RBI)
H KENDRICK (.323, 5 HR, 27 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: GIDP - C Blake. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - J Barfield (14, dropped foul ball).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .309
G Anderson lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
K Morales dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Willits rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (H Kendrick-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.16

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.95

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 17-10; K Escobar 26-19. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 1-1; K Escobar 2-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 4; K Escobar 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Dale Scott. 1B--Chris Guccione. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 1
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.304, 7 HR, 34 RBI)
K SHOPPACH (.274, 6 HR, 26 RBI)
J BARFIELD (.244, 3 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: GIDP - C Blake. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - J Barfield (14, dropped foul ball).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .309
G Anderson lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
K Morales dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
M Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Willits rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (H Kendrick-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.14

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.95

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 31-21; K Escobar 26-19. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 2-1; K Escobar 2-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 7; K Escobar 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Dale Scott. 1B--Chris Guccione. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KELLY SHOPPACH SCORED KENNY LOFTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K SHOPPACH ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
LA ANGELS 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J BARFIELD (.244, 3 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 1 1 3 1
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: J MATHIS (.246, 4 HR, 20 RBI)
R WILLITS (.292, 0 HR, 32 RBI)
G MATTHEWS JR (.257, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .273
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .262
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .259
V Martinez 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .304
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
K Lofton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .305
K Shoppach c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .279
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 11 1 3 1 2 4 5

BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (24, K Escobar); K Shoppach (12, K Escobar). RBI - K
Shoppach (27). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 2. GIDP - C
Blake. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - J Barfield (14, dropped foul ball).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .309
G Anderson lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
K Morales dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
M Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .322
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Willits rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (H Kendrick-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 001 -- 1
LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.14

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 3 3 1 1 2 4 0 2.99

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 31-21; K Escobar 56-33. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Byrd 2-1; K Escobar 3-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 7; K Escobar 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Dale Scott. 1B--Chris Guccione. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY GARY MATTHEWS JR SCORED REGGIE WILLITS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G MATTHEWS JR ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: O CABRERA (.309, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 1 1 3 1
LA ANGELS 0 0 1 1 3 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.271, 1-FOR-1)
C BLAKE (.268, 0-FOR-1)
K LOFTON (.305, 1-FOR-1)</div>