Kendrick gets a game off in Cleveland
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The Angels are searching for consistent offense but Manager Mike Scioscia is also trying to find a way to rest his regulars. On Monday, that meant benching All-Star Howie Kendrick, the team’s leading hitter at .301 and the American League’s third-best hitter on the road at .324.
However, Kendrick is batting just .182 against Fausto Carmona, Cleveland’s starter in the first game of the three-game series. Maicer Izturis, Kendrick’s replacement at second base, is hitting .313 against Carmona.
The Angels will be starting right-hander Dan Haren, who has allowed 11 runs in his last two starts and 10 2/3 innings. Scioscia said Monday that Haren has been bothered by minor back stiffness since the All-Star break.
The lineups:
Angels
2B -- Maicer Izturis
RF -- Torii Hunter
DH -- Bobby Abreu
LF -- Vernon Wells
3B -- Alberto Callaspo
SS -- Erick Aybar
1B -- Mark Trumbo
CF -- Peter Bourjos
C -- Jeff Mathis
P -- Dan Haren
Cleveland Indians
CF -- Ezequiel Carrera
LF -- Michael Brantley
SS -- Asdrubal Cabrera
DH -- Travis Hafner
C -- Carlos Santana
3B -- Lonnie Chisenhall
RF -- Travis Buck
2B -- Jason Kipnis
C -- Lou Marson
P -- Fausto Carmona
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-- Kevin Baxter reporting from Cleveland