Angels shatter Indians' 6-game winning streak

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- When a baseball team riding a six-game winning streak connects for eight hits before the third inning ends, Lucky Seven usually isn't too far behind.
But Anaheim left-hander Scott Schoeneweis proved more than capable of handling the early adversity the Cleveland Indians threw at him Tuesday at Jacobs Field.
The Angels, who were struggling with four straight losses, snapped their streak with a 7-2 victory.
Downfall: Baserunning mistakes and fielding errors contributed to the Indians' first loss since April 14.
"In the beginning, I wouldn't say everything went right," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The score isn't a good indication of how close the game was.
"Scott did a great job of keeping us in the ball game by making some good pitches," Scioscia said. "That's a fine offensive ballclub over there and they find a way to make stuff happen.
"They laid down some good bunts, they put some pressure on us early, but Scott got us out of some key jams."
Indians manager Charlie Manuel agreed.
"[Schoeneweis] had a good sinker and slider," Manuel said. "He kept the ball down and kept it away from us. He ended up pitching a real good game."
Colon bows: Indians starter Bartolo Colon (2-2) surrendered four runs in 61/3 innings to take the loss.
With the Angels ahead 4-2 in the eighth inning, Indians reliever Paul Shuey made two errors trying to field a bunt that led to a four-run cushion for the Angels.
"When Shuey couldn't field that bunt, that sort of topped us out for the night," Manuel said.
After Scott Spiezio doubled and Wally Joyner walked, Shuey mishandled Benjie Molina's sacrifice bunt, then threw it high to first base, allowing Spiezio to score. Molina later scored on a groundball out.
"That was as bad as I've felt on the field for a long time," Shuey said. "What a stupid feeling."
Big hits: The key blows against Colon were a first-inning double by Darin Erstad, a third inning double by Troy Glaus and a two-run homer by Joyner that put Anaheim ahead for keeps.
"Joyner did a good job working the count and getting a good pitch to hit," Scioscia said.
Anaheim's victory came after Scioscia shook up his batting lineup by replacing Erstad with David Eckstein as leadoff hitter. It was the first time Erstad wasn't the Angels' leadoff hitter since Sept. 2, 1999.
Eckstein got the Angels rolling in the first inning when he was struck by a Colon pitch on a 1-2 count. Erstad doubled over center fielder Kenny Lofton, scoring Eckstein. Glaus' two-out single gave the Angels a 2-0 lead.
The Tribe tied the score with single runs in the first and third innings, but could have scored much more.
Cut lead: After Omar Vizquel singled with one out, Roberto Alomar bunted him to second and Juan Gonzalez hit the ball onto the left-center field warning track for a double, cutting Anaheim's lead to 2-1.
Schoeneweis ended the threat by striking out Ellis Burks and getting Wil Cordero on a ground out.
The Tribe tied the score in the third inning, but only after a costly baserunning mistake ruined the chance for a big inning.
Lofton led off with a bunt single and was awarded second base when umpire Jim Shulock ruled Schoeneweis balked.
When Vizquel hit a line drive to Erstad in center field, Lofton took off for third base and was erased when Erstad threw to Eckstein at second base for an easy double play.
"That helped, but he shouldn't have been there in the first place," Schoeneweis said.
Three in row: The heart of the Indians' batting order then connected for three straight hits and a 2-2 tie.
Alomar beat out an infield hit, advanced to third base on Gonzalez's single and scored on Burks' double off the left-field wall.
But that threat ended when Marty Cordova grounded out. As a result, the Indians had two runs to show for their first eight base hits.
"To have two outs and nobody on and then give up a run, I wasn't really pleased," Schoeneweis said.
After Joyner's two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning, Schoeneweis took out his frustrations on Indian batters, retiring 14 of the next 15 he faced.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Burks and Cordero singled, but Cordova's flyout ended the threat.