Jered Weaver earns 2nd career shutout for Angels

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jered Weaver dealt with adversity and delivered a shutout.

Weaver bounced back from one of his worst starts ever to pitch his second career shutout as the Los Angeles Angels won their fifth in a row, 3-0 over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.

“He was terrific,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He made 116 pitches and still had something left in his tank. I like how he finished strong. You break down his last 10 to 12 pitches and he turned it up.”

Weaver (13-4) gave up seven hits only five days after being pounded for nine hits and eight runs in 31‚Ñ3 innings of a 16-6 loss at Baltimore.

“That last outing was just one of those things you have to deal with in a career,” Weaver said. “I didn’t worry about it. I threw strikes. That was the difference.”

With closer Brian Fuentes having worked each of the four previous days, Scioscia said before the game he hoped Weaver could work deep into the game.

“That’s as deep as you can get,” Scioscia said after Weaver threw 72 strikes and didn’t allow a runner past second base. The Indians never had more than one runner on at a time against the right-hander, who walked one, struck out three, and matched his career-high win total set in 2007.

Weaver improved to 6-2 in 12 starts since shutting out San Diego, 6-0 on June 14. The complete game was his fourth, one behind AL leaders Zack Greinke of Kansas City and Roy Halladay of Toronto.

“He was using his fastball early and then throwing his changeup and curveball in hitters’ counts,” said Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who had two hits and is hitting .588 (10 for 17) in five games against the Angels. “He was hitting the inside corner and the outside corner.”

Indians starter Jeremy Sowers (4-9) was nearly as efficient against the Angels, who hit .338 with 65 runs in their previous eight games. He held them hitless until the fifth, when they scored all their runs.

The Angels improved to 27-11 against left-handed starters, 22-6 in their last 28 road games and 24-8 since the All-Star break.

Kendry Morales got the Angels’ first hit, a double off the left-field wall after Mike Napoli opened the fifth with a walk. Howie Kendrick followed with a ground single up the middle that scored both runners for a 2-0 lead.

Erick Aybar beat out a bunt for a single, then Chone Figgins bunted both runners ahead. Bobby Abreu added a run-scoring groundout.

“We bunched some stuff together,” Scioscia said. “Sowers has pitched some terrific games against us. He was good.”

Kendrick was the only batter in Los Angeles’ lineup who started the game hitting under .300, at .275.

“That’s an extremely difficult lineup to face,” Sowers said. “On top of that, they play small ball better than anyone in the league. Even when they only get four hits like tonight, they make the best of it with bunting and moving guys over.”

Sowers gave up three runs and four hits over 62‚Ñ3 innings.