Gary Matthews Jr.’s 3-run double in 8th pushes comeback Angels past Indians 7-6

Matthews’ 3 RBIs in 8th push Angels past Indians

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Gary Matthews Jr. hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels survived another meltdown by All-Star closer Brian Fuentes for their major league-leading 33rd comeback victory, 7-6 over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.

Juan Rivera’s RBI single tied it earlier in the eighth for the Angels, whose latest remarkable rally made up for another poor performance by their starting rotation and their closer. Matthews Jr. capped the comeback with a two-out drive to left-center off reliever Tony Sipp, the Indians’ third pitcher of the inning.

Yet Fuentes, the major league leader with 30 saves, fell apart for the second straight night, giving up two runs and failing to close out the scrappy Indians.

After giving up two homers and four runs while blowing a save in Monday’s loss, Fuentes gave up two walks and two hits without getting an out. He was heartily booed by the home crowd when he left with the bases loaded.

Jason Bulger rescued Fuentes by getting Victor Martinez to ground into a double play, giving up another run. Bulger then retired Jhonny Peralta on a grounder to shortstop, finishing his first career save.

Matt Palmer (9-1) pitched two solid innings in relief of struggling starter Jered Weaver for the Angels, who have won 13 of 16 despite losing their previous two — just Los Angeles’ second set of back-to-back losses in July. Texas has won eight of nine to close within 2½ games of the Angels atop the AL West standings.

Peralta homered and drove in two runs, and Ben Francisco also homered as the Indians lost for just the second time in eight games on a remarkable road trip concluding Wednesday.

David Huff (5-5) pitched into the eighth inning for the Indians, who are in their most impressive stretch of the season despite trade talks involving nearly everybody on the underachieving club.

Los Angeles’ rally began against Huff, who gave up eight hits and three walks. Erick Aybar singled and Bobby Abreu walked to open the inning before Joe Smith relieved. Rivera drove a single to left, scoring Aybar.

After Mike Napoli’s double-play grounder, Sipp walked the bases loaded before Matthews connected for his second double.

Weaver was the latest Angels starter to struggling, barely surviving five innings while giving up eight hits. He is winless in his last three starts after going 7-1 in his previous nine, and the right-hander has allowed at least three runs in eight consecutive outings.

NOTES: Andy Marte went 2 for 3 in his first game back with the Indians, who recalled him from the minors after trading Ryan Garko to San Francisco. Marte was batting .327 with Triple-A Columbus after being designated for assignment following a poor spring training. … The home team wore the softball-style 1980 throwback California Angels uniforms on ’80s Night. … Sean O’Sullivan, who has bounced from the minors to the Angels’ roster this season, pitched a no-hitter for Triple-A Salt Lake.