LDN - Sports

Napoli leads Indians' rout of Angels

[August 12, 2016] CLEVELAND -- It's been five years since Mike Napoli played for the Los Angeles Angels, but he keeps reminding them of that fact in the most painful way possible.

Thursday night Napoli had four hits, including a home run and four RBIs, and Corey Kluber pitched six solid innings to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 14-4 pounding of the Angels at Progressive Field.

"We jumped on them and stayed on them," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Napoli, who at age 34 is having one of the best years of his career, with 29 home runs and 83 RBIs.

In four games against the Angels this year Napoli is hitting .563 (9-for-16) with a home run and six RBIs. In 201 career at bats against the Angels he is hitting .338 with 19 home runs and 43 RBIs.

"We just haven't matched up well against him. He's been tougher on us than anyone," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez also homered for the Indians, who scored in each of the first five innings of the game. Lonnie Chisenhall had two hits and four RBIs and Abraham Almonte had three hits.

The loss is the Angels' seventh in a row, their longest losing streak since they lost seven in a row in April and May of 2010. In their seven-game losing streak the Angels have been outscored 45-21.

"Nobody wants to get on a streak like this," said Scioscia. "It begins with the starting pitching. We're determined to grind through this and come out better on the other side."

Kluber (12-8) gave up three runs on four hits in six innings to get the win. Angels starter Jhoulys Chacin (2-6), making his first start since July 1, only pitched 1 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits and three walks.

Nine of Cleveland's 14 hits were for extra bases: three home runs and six doubles. Napoli had a single, two doubles, a home run and four RBIs as he extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

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Indians first baseman Mike Napoli (26) runs out a double in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

With the exception of Tyler Naquin, each of the other eight starters in the Cleveland lineup had at least one hit and scored at least one run.

Santana, was knocked out of the game in the fifth inning, while sitting in the dugout. He was hit on the right side of his head by a line drive off the bat of teammate Francisco Lindor.

"I could hear it hit him. It was not a good feeling," Francona said. "But he was doing much better after the game. He doesn't think he has a concussion, but we'll get him checked out in the morning."

A solo home run by Mike Trout in the first inning gave the Angels an early 1-0 lead, but it vanished quickly as the Indians sent nine men to the plate in the bottom half of the first, scoring five runs. Santana led off with his 24th home run -- a blast into the right field seats. Chisenhall added a three-run double later in the inning.

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