Weaver stays unbeaten in Cleveland

Angels' ace shuts down Tribe once again to improve to 5-0

Los Angeles Angels' Howard Kendrick (47) and Albert Pujols (5) celebrate their 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians in a baseball game, Monday, July 2, 2012, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

AP

The Angels Jered Weaver delivers against the Indians in the first inning on Monday. He allowed five hits and struck out two with three walks over seven innings while not allowing an earned run in the Angels' 3-0 victory.

CLEVELAND -- Jered Weaver carried a shutout into the eighth inning, squirming out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

Weaver (9-1) allowed five singles, struck out two and remained unbeaten in Cleveland. He's 5-0 with 1.52 ERA in eight career starts at Progressive Field. Scott Downs worked out of a mess in the eighth and pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

The Indians loaded the bases in the seventh off Weaver, who got a force at the plate, foul pop, and strikeout to end Cleveland's best threat.

Howard Kendrick homered in the seventh off Ubaldo Jimenez (7-7) as the Angels improved to 16-3 on the road since May 22.

Weaver, who pitched a no-hitter against Minnesota on May 7, allowed two hits through six innings before the all-star went a little wild in the seventh.

He walked Jason Kipnis leading off and allowed Michael Brantley's single, giving Cleveland its first baserunner at second. Weaver walked Carlos Santana to load the bases and Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher went to the mound to settle down the right-hander.

Turns out, Weaver was never in real danger.

He got Johnny Damon to ground to third baseman Alberto Callaspo, who alertly fired home to force Kipnis. Weaver retired Casey Kotchman on a pop behind the plate before fanning Shelley Duncan on a nasty slider that was low and way outside.

After the strikeout, Weaver calmly walked to the dugout as if he retired the side in order.

Weaver was pulled after giving up two singles to start the eighth. Downs came in and induced all-star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to hit into a double play and popped up Kipnis. Downs then worked a perfect ninth as manager Mike Scioscia chose to stick with the left-hander instead of closer Ernesto Frieri.

Weaver had little difficulty handling a Cleveland lineup that had just scored 32 runs during a four-game series at Baltimore.

NOTES: X-rays on Mike Trout's finger were negative. He was named the AL's top rookie for June, when he set franchise rookie records for average (.372), hits (42), runs (27), and steals (14).