Final in Cleveland: Angels 3 Native Americans: 5
Albert Pujols entered Thursday afternoon's game having just one hit in nine at-bats in his two games against Cleveland, having been robbed by the defensive shift numerous time when the slugger hit the ball up the middle. Pujols found himself in a position to put the Halos ahead in the tenth inning when Kole Calhoun singled with two out, and a Mike Trout double put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Hitting just .157 with runners in scoring position this season, and having a difficult time hitting against the shift, Pujols slapped a 3-2 pitch through the vacated hole on the right side, scoring both Calhoun and Trout, and giving the Angels a 3-1 lead. And a feeling that this one was in the bag.
With the Angels up by two runs heading into the bottom of the tenth, Cam Bedrosian made his first appearance in a save situation. After walking Michael Bourne to lead off the inning, Bedrosian struck out Asdrubal Cabrera, but Jason Kipnis doubled to left center putting the tying run on second. With a walk to Carlos Santana to load the bases, the 22 year-old rookie right-hander's day was over.
Enter Ernesto Frieri.
The Angels' homer-happy closer got pinch-hitter David Murphy to fly out to shallow left, yet he couldn't get Nick Swisher. Swisher hit a walk-off grand slam. GAME OVER.
In a game that featured two starters who haven't had their best performances recently, Angels' starter C.J. Wilson and Cleveland's Justin Masterson faced off in a classic pitcher's duel. Both pitchers went 7 innings, allowing just one run each. The Indians managed three hits off Wilson, as the left-hander walked 4 while striking out six. Using 114 pitches to get through his 7 innings, Wilson lowered his ERA to 3.34.
The Angels took an early lead when Howie Kendrick doubled with 1 out, moved to third on a Raul Ibanez ground out, and then scored on Masterson's wild pitch.