Hunter’s blasts sink Tribe, 6-4

His game-winning grand slam in the ninth Monday came off Joe Borowski.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — From the moment he signed with the Los Angeles Angels, Torii Hunter said he and the Rally Monkey would be close friends and would go everywhere together. There’s even one hanging in his locker.

Hunter got some good vibes from the stuffed animal he calls Rusty on Monday night, hitting a game-winning grand slam off Cleveland closer Joe Borowski in the ninth inning and a solo shot in the eighth to lead the Angels to a 6-4 victory over the Indians.

“I’m still trying to fit in and go out there and just be myself,” Hunter said. “I’d say 75 percent of this game is mental, and I was so emotional back there in Minnesota. But when I came back here, I felt some peace and I was able to calm down and be myself a little bit. And it shows.”

Hunter, who signed a five-year, $90 million free-agent contract with the Angels in November after leaving the Minnesota Twins, has 11 hits in his last 23 at-bats after opening the season 0-for-10 at the Metrodome.

Hunter hit a leadoff shot in the eighth off Rafael Betancourt to give the Angels a 2-1 lead, but Cleveland rallied for three runs off Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez in the top of the ninth.

Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta hit consecutive RBI doubles against Rodriguez after a leadoff walk to Travis Hafner. Borowski, whose 5.07 ERA last season was the highest ever by a pitcher with 40 or more saves, then gave it right back.

The right-hander surrendered a one-out walk to Gary Matthews Jr., a single to Vladimir Guerrero and another walk to Garret Anderson before Hunter drove a 1-0 slider just inside the left field pole for his 10th career slam, setting off a pulsating celebration.

Hunter was mobbed my his teammates at home plate, and the fans led a sustained ovation. When his teammates returned to the clubhouse, they doused him with beer.