Angels clobbered by Cleveland Indians, 15-5, in exhibition play
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The Cleveland Indians pounded the Angels for six runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings of Sunday’s 15-5 exhibtion victory in Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Indians first baseman Matt LaPorta hit a two-run home run off reliever Jon Bachanov in the fifth inning and a two-run double off Eddie McKiernan in the sixth. Austin Kearns hit a two-run double off Bachanov in the fifth.
Angels right-hander Ervin Santana, who was scratched from his last start because of an inflamed bursa sac, an injury he suffered when he banged his elbow while sitting down on a couch, threw 84 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs and six hits, striking out two and walking two.
But three of the runs he was charged with came when Bachanov replaced him and threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score and gave up LaPorta’s home run. Another run charged to Santana reached base when center fielder Torii Hunter lost a pop fly in the sun.
‘Ervin actually threw the ball very well,’ Manager Mike Scioscia said. ‘We’re very excited to see the ball come out of his hand like that. That matches the stuff he had earlier this spring, so obviously it was a minimal setback he had when he bumped his elbow. It was a great outing for him.’
Howie Kendrick hit a two-run double, and Brandon Wood and Hunter each hit RBI singles during the Angels’ four-run fourth. The offensive highlight of the day for the Angels came in the third inning, when speedy leadoff batter Erick Aybar scored from first base on Bobby Abreu’s single to right-center field.
‘He ran through every base hard, and Dino [Ebel] made a nice read sending him home,’ Scioscia said. ‘That’s part of the package Erick brings. He’s having a nice week in the leadoff position.’
Reliever Fernando Rodney, pitching on back-to-back days for the first time this spring, walked three of five batters he faced and gave up a single in the sixth inning. The right-hander, struggling with his mechanics, was charged with four runs. Reliever Brian Stokes gave up a run and three hits in the seventh inning.
-- Mike DiGiovanna, reporting from Tempe, Ariz.