Major League Baseball

Bauer, Kipnis lead Indians to 3-1 win over Angels

Published Aug. 28, 2015 9:53 p.m. ET

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CLEVELAND (AP) Trevor Bauer didn't pitch like someone who was originally scheduled to watch Friday night's game from the dugout.

Bauer, starting in place of an ill Danny Salazar, allowed one run in eight innings and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-1.

Bauer (10-10) replaced Salazar, who was scratched because of a virus. The right-hander learned on Thursday that he would start the series opener instead of pitching Saturday.

The change didn't affect Bauer, who allowed five hits and struck out seven in winning for the second time in nine starts.

''You never know about stuff like that,'' Bauer said. ''I try not to worry about it. Tell me when I'm supposed to pitch and I go out there and do my best.''

Jason Kipnis, the American League's leading hitter (.324), drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning single to cap a three-run rally.

Kipnis, who had struck out twice and hit into a double play in his first three at-bats, delivered off Trevor Gott (2-2).

Kaleb Cowart's RBI single in the fifth drove in the Angels' only run. Los Angeles is 1 1-2 games behind Texas for the second wild-card spot in the AL.

Cody Allen worked a perfect ninth for his 27th save.

Salazar became ill Tuesday and missed a couple of days of his routine between starts. Bauer was pitching on his regular four days' rest between starts.

''I was going to come in on (Thursday) and throw anyway,'' Bauer said. ''I came in to the field and played catch with my dad and got ready for today.''

''One run in eight innings, we'll take that every time,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia was impressed with Bauer's performance.

''Bauer is just a strong young man,'' he said. ''His stuff is real, his stuff is legit. You've got to be patient and make him pitch in the zone because he tends to be around it quite a bit.''

Francona used three straight pinch-hitters to start the go-ahead rally. Lonnie Chisenhall drew a leadoff walk and was forced at second on Jose Ramirez's failed sacrifice attempt.

Abraham Almonte, batting for Mike Aviles, tied the game with a double to the wall in left-center on Gott's first pitch. Kipnis followed with a single to center, giving Cleveland the lead.

Kipnis struck out in the first and third and hit into a double play in the fifth against rookie left-hander Andrew Heaney. That mattered little after his seventh-inning hit gave Cleveland the lead.

''Heaney made some good pitches, spun that breaking ball to him and got him to chase out of the zone but Kip's a good hitter,'' Francona said.

Carlos Santana added an RBI single off Jose Alvarez.

Heaney pitched six scoreless innings, but Gott quickly gave up the lead. He allowed six hits and struck out three. Cowart singled on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the fifth to break a scoreless tie.

FAMOUS FACE

Legendary political columnist George Will was in the Angels' clubhouse before the game. The Pulitzer Prize winner is a longtime friend of Scioscia's. ''George was in Cleveland, so he wanted to drop by and visit us,'' Scioscia said. ''Even though he had to catch a flight before the game started, it was great to see him. As you all know, George is a big baseball fan.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: 3B David Freese (right index finger fracture) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake, going 1 for 3 at New Orleans.

Indians: DH Chris Johnson (left index finger infection) went 0 for 3 against Richmond in the first game of his rehab assignment for Double-A Akron.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Garrett Richards allowed a season-high nine runs over five innings Sunday in a 12-5 loss to Toronto. He is 2-4 in last eight starts and 12-10 on the season.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber leads the American League with 194 1-3 innings pitched and four complete games. His 13 losses are tied for the most in the AL.

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