Angels 5, Indians 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Right-hander Garrett Richards tied a career best with 11 strikeouts as the Los Angeles Angels broke a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night in front of 37,030 at Angel Stadium.
Los Angeles drew within three games of the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West and gave the Indians their third consecutive loss and their ninth in the past 12 games.
Richards (11-8) also broke a personal two-game losing streak. The right-hander retired 15 of 16 batters between the first and sixth innings, including 14 in a row. In 7 1/3 innings, Richards conceded three walks, three runs and four hits.
After the Angels took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Indians narrowed the margin by one run in the top of the eighth and put the possible go-ahead run on base.
Second baseman Jose Martinez walked against Richards to begin the inning, took second one out later when designated hitter Michael Brantley singled off left-hander Cesar Ramos' glove and scored on first baseman Carlos Santana's single that sent Brantley to second base.
But right-handed reliever Joe Smith defused the threat by striking out catcher Yan Gomes and left fielder Tyler Holt.
Cleveland then brought the potential lead run to the plate in the ninth. Center fielder Michael Bourn lined a single to center field with one out and stole second with two out. But right-hander Huston Street earned his 26th save by making second baseman Jose Ramirez fly out to end the game.
The Angels moved ahead by sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn five hits and alert base running into three runs a 5-3 lead. After shortstop Erick Aybar lined a single over the glove of Ramirez, third baseman Conor Gillaspie sent an 87 mph pitch down the right-field line for his fourth home run of the season.
One out later, second baseman Johnny Giavotella lined a single to center field. Catcher Carlos Perez then hit a ground ball that Cleveland third baseman Giovanny Urshela fielded. As Urshela threw to first base, Giavotella rounded second and slid head-first into third. Left fielder David De Jesus brought Giavotella home with an infield single.
Right-hander Corey Kluber, who had a three-hit shutout after four innings, took the loss. In 5 2/3 innings, Kluber (6-12) yielded five runs, 10 hits and a hit batter while striking out four.
The Indians took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Richards. Ramirez began the game with a walk, moved to second base on shortstop Francisco Lindor's sacrifice and came home when designated hitter Michael Brantley singled to right field.
One out later, Gomes propelled Richards' 96 mph fastball over the fence in right-center field for a two-run home run, his sixth of the season.
But after Gomes' homer, Richards retired 15 of the next 16 batters he faced, including 14 in succession between the second and sixth innings.
The Angels had a chance to score in the bottom of the first when right fielder Kole Calhoun hit a deep drive to center field. But Bourn made a leaping, one-handed catch at the wall with his back toward home plate to steal a home run from Calhoun.
Los Angeles narrowed the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth on run-scoring singles by Calhoun and center fielder Mike Trout.
NOTES: Cleveland placed 2B Jason Kipnis on the disabled list with an inflamed right shoulder. Through Sunday, Kipnis led the American League with 132 hits and ranked third with a .326 average. ... The Indians also optioned LHP Michael Roth to Triple-A Columbus and recalled LHP Kyle Crockett and INF Jose Ramirez from the same club. ... Angels CF Mike Trout was selected the American League player of the month for July. Trout batted .347 with 12 home runs, 26 RBIs and 20 runs in 21 games last month. ... The Angels recalled RHP Cam Bedrosian from Triple-A Salt Lake. RHP Drew Rucinski was optioned to Salt Lake after allowing the game-winning homer to Dodgers OF Andre Ethier on Sunday. ... Los Angeles LHP Andrew Heaney was chosen the American League rookie of the month for July after going 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA.