Cleveland falls big to Angels Thursday

Garret Anderson led Los Angeles to a 10-3 win.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Driving in runs has always been Garret Anderson’s top priority.

The Angels slugger extended his streak to a club-record 11 games with at least one RBI, knocking in three runs and leading Los Angeles past the Cleveland Indians 10-3 Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series between AL division leaders.

Friday’s game was not completed for today’s edition.

“I’ve made my living driving in runs and not worrying about hitting home runs,” said Anderson, who has hit nine of his 15 homers in the last 16 games. “I like to make it tough on the pitcher, knowing that I can hit a home run. But at the same time, I’ll take my hits, too. I was just glad that the actual RBI that broke the record meant something.”

The Angels’ career RBI leader had a run-scoring single that triggered a four-run rally in the fifth inning and added a two-run homer in the eighth, breaking the previous franchise mark of 10 consecutive games with an RBI that was shared by Fred Lynn and Wally Joyner.

Escobar the winner

Kelvim Escobar (16-7) allowed three runs and eight hits in 52⁄3 innings, striking out eight and walking three.

Casey Kotchman broke out of a 4-for-33 skid with two hits and three RBIs for the Angels, who increased their AL West lead over the Mariners to eight games and matched their largest margin of the season.

Cleveland lost for the second time in 13 games, reducing its AL Central lead to six games over Detroit.

Anderson’s record-breaking RBI came against former teammate Paul Byrd (14-6) and cut Cleveland’s lead to 4-3. Gary Matthews Jr. followed with an infield hit and Byrd allowed two-out RBI singles by Anderson and Kendry Morales. The four-run rally began when Jeff Mathis was hit by a pitch on the right hand.

Byrd then walked Maicer Izturis before Kotchman chased him with a two-run double. The right-hander was charged with five runs and eight hits over 42⁄3 innings after winning his previous four starts.