Indians’ ace silences Angels

August 15, 2012 at 12:09a.m.

Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif.

Justin Masterson ended Cleveland’s 11-game skid in his previous start with a strong outing against Minnesota. He had another one Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels to help stop the Indians’ 10-game road losing streak.

“I had no clue. I just wanted to go out and pitch well,” Masterson said after taking a shutout into the seventh inning of a 6-2 victory.

“Starting another long road trip, you want to start out with a good effort. And that’s what I was trying to give us. I got behind in a few counts where I didn’t want to, but I’ll definitely take the effort that I had tonight. I caught a couple of breaks here and there, which always helps out.”

Brent Lillibridge homered off All-Star lefty C.J. Wilson, who has dropped five straight decisions, to help the Indians bounce back from their most lopsided loss of the season.

In the opener of a 10-game trip, Masterson (9-10) scattered six hits, struck out four and walked three over six-plus innings. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels, the lowest mark of any pitcher with at least five starts against them.

“He was throwing low-to-mid-90s [mph] with a power sinker, and it’s good enough that he can probably just use that one pitch and get by. But he combined it with a few off-speed pitches,” Angels slugger Mark Trumbo said. “One pitch goes straight and the next drops a couple of feet, so sometimes your eyes and your mind aren’t quick enough to adjust.”

Joe Smith relieved Masterson after Trumbo led off the seventh with an infield hit and Alberto Callaspo singled. The sidearming righty retired Howie Kendrick on a fly ball, struck out Erick Aybar and slipped a called third strike past Chris Iannetta with two runners in scoring position.

Vinnie Pestano gave up a two-run homer by Albert Pujols in the Angels’ eighth after a leadoff walk to Mike Trout. Pujols’ 25th homer snapped the right-hander’s scoreless streak at 211/3 innings.