Duncan Delivers: 2 homers, 4 RBIs help Indians defeat Angels 4-3

Duncan’s 2 homers, 4 RBIs lead Indians past Angels

CLEVELAND — Shelley Duncan hit two home runs and tied a career high with four RBIs as the Cleveland Indians beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Duncan’s second career multihomer game helped Josh Tomlin (4-3) earn his third win in four starts since Aug. 27. The right-hander allowed three runs and seven hits over 6 2-3 innings as Cleveland broke the Angels’ four-game winning streak. Six of the hits were for extra bases.

Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 24 chances. The right-hander got Peter Bourjos on a called third strike with runners on first and third. A passed ball put Angels on second and third, but Perez retired Alberto Callaspo on a fly ball for his seventh straight save. He has not allowed a run in his last 13 appearances.

Duncan hit his 10th homer, a two-run shot off Scott Kazmir (8-14) in the sixth inning for a 4-1 lead. He had a game-tying RBI single in the first and put Cleveland ahead 2-1 with a leadoff homer in the fourth.

Duncan had two homers and four RBIs on July 22, 2007, for the New York Yankees against Tampa Bay.

Kazmir dropped to 0-5 in seven starts since Aug. 13 and is 1-9 since June 24. The Angels have totaled four runs in his last three losses.

The left-hander gave up four runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings. He fell to 1-3 in his career against Cleveland with a 6.13 ERA — the highest by any AL team against him.

The Angels, whose winning streak started Thursday with a 4-3 home win over the Indians in 16 innings, took a 1-0 lead in the first. Bobby Abreu doubled with one out and scored on a double by Torii Hunter.

Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Hunter was thrown out trying to score from first on a two-out double to left-center by Hideki Matsui. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera took the throw from left fielder Duncan and his relay to Lou Marson was in plenty of time. Hunter bowled over Marson in an attempt to jar the ball loose, but the catcher hung on for the third out.

Howie Kendrick hit a grounds-rule double with two outs and scored on double by Bobby Wilson in the Angels’ seventh. Bourjos tripled home Wilson to make it 4-3.

Rafael Perez relieved Tomlin and retired Callaspo on a first-pitch lineout to third base.

Cleveland loaded the bases in the bottom half, but did not score when pinch-hitter Travis Hafner bounced into an inning-ending double play.

The Angels’ winning streak was their longest since winning six straight June 2-7.

NOTES: Cleveland called up INF Drew Sutton from Triple-A Columbus. INF Jason Donald is out at least a week with a bruised right index finger. … Angels manager Mike Scioscia said RHP Joel Piniero could possibly start Saturday at Tampa Bay. Piniero has been sidelined since July 29 with a strained left oblique. He worked six innings in a rehab start for Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday. … Hunter went 2 for 4 and is 13 for 27 (.481) with three homers and five RBIs against Cleveland this year. … The Angels did not homer for the first time in nine games. They had a 10-game streak, May 14-23. … OF Michael Brantley went 2 for 4, extending his hitting streak to an Indians’ season-best 14 games.