Cabrera’s hit in 9th inning leads Indians over Angels

Associated Press

cleveland

Asdrubal Cabrera singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the struggling Los Angeles Angels 3-2 Friday night.

Albert Pujols went 1 for 4 as Los Angeles lost its fifth straight. He is homerless in 20 games since signing a $240 million, 10-year contract to join the Angels — his longest drought to start a season.

Aaron Cunningham opened the ninth against David Carpenter (0-1) by doubling over leaping left fielder Vernon Wells at the wall. Michael Brantley lined out to center before Jason Kipnis singled. Angels shortstop Erick Aybar got a glove on the line drive, slowing the ball down and preventing Cunningham from scoring.

Cabrera hit a 2-0 pitch to right, making the Indians 6-0 in one-run games and the Angels 0-6.

Vinnie Pestano (1-0) struck out the only two batters he faced for the win.

He replaced Justin Masterson after the Indians starter walked Kendrys Morales and Peter Bourjos in the ninth. Pestano fanned Vernon Wells and Aybar to keep it tied at 2.

Right fielder Torii Hunter drove in two runs and threw out a runner trying to score for the Angels.

Pujols lined a two-out single in the first and scored on a single to right by Hunter, who was out trying for second.

Despite the hit, it extended Pujols’ homerless drought to a career-worst 109 at-bats. He has not connected since Sept. 22 last year with St. Louis.

Pujols has not homered in 20 games and 80 at-bats in an Angels uniform. He had a 105-at-bat drought April 23 to May 23 last year — then rebounded to help the Cardinals win the World Series.

Cleveland hasn’t hit a homer in nine games, its longest drought in 21 years. It also went without a homer for nine games in June 1991.