Major League Baseball

Closer Fuentes struggles, but Halos still top Indians

Published Jul. 29, 2009 8:49 a.m. ET

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Mike Scioscia almost has more pitching problems than one manager can handle. If it's not Jered Weaver struggling through another start for the Los Angeles Angels, it's closer Brian Fuentes' sudden inability to get anybody out.

Yet the Angels' lineup still has a remarkable knack for the comeback — and reliever Jason Bulger barely managed to do what Fuentes couldn't.

Gary Matthews Jr. hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth inning, and the Angels survived another meltdown by their All-Star closer for their major league-leading 33rd come-from-behind victory, 7-6 over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.


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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 another starter and the usually formidable Fuentes. Scioscia finally found a stopper in Bulger, a 30-year-old right-hander in his first full big league season.

Entering the game with the bases loaded and nobody out after Fuentes' second straight flop, Bulger induced a double-play grounder by Victor Martinez, even covering first for the relay throw. He then stranded Cleveland's tying run on third base with another grounder for his first career save.

"The last thing (Scioscia) told me when he left the mound was to be sure to cover first base on a ground ball," Bulger said. "The whole thing is a blur. I'm just ecstatic that we came back and won. We do it when it counts."

Fuentes, the major league leader with 30 saves, fell apart for the second straight night, yielding two runs and failing to close out the scrappy Indians, whose five-game winning streak ended.

"We had the guy we wanted up there in that situation with the bases loaded, but they turned a hell of a double play," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "Then Jhonny hit the ball right on the nose, but right at the shortstop. But we had great at-bats prior to that and made them work for it. We just came up short."

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.

"(Fuentes) is getting a little bit tired," Scioscia said. "The ball's not coming out like it normally does. ... He'll right his ship and get it back together. It just didn't look like he was comfortable out there."

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