Angels Eke Out Close Series Win Over Indians

The 86 Angels team and 99 Indians both came into this series with identical 10-7 records. The Angels took two of three in a rollercoaster ride of a series -- featuring a close, one run win, a dominant pitching performance and an absolute, one-sided blowout.

Game One: The Angels jumped out to a 5-0 lead, behind a 9 K performance from Mike Witt in his 6.1 innings of work and hitting up and down the lineup that dinged Cleveland starter Charles Nagy (who gave up 10 hits in six innings). But in the Indians score a run in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull to 5-3 and setting up a possible comeback win. In the bottom of the ninth, California's Donnie Moore gives up a run and puts runners on the corners with two out and is relieved by Chuck Finley. Cleveland counters with Sandy Alomar Jr. vs. the lefty. But Finley wins the battle by getting Alomar to ground out to end it. Light hitting Dick Schofield hits a two run shot for the key blow.

California 5, Cleveland 4. W: Witt (3-2); L: Nagy (1-1). S: Finley (1). MVP: Schofield

Game Two: Kirk McCaskill is brilliant, going nine and only allowing seven hits and two runs off the powerful Indians lineup. California mugs Cleveland starter Jaret Wright for six runs in six innings. Reggie Jackson is the man, launching two homers and a double and driving in five as Cleveland never threatens.

California 8, Cleveland 4. W: McCaskill (3-1); L: Wright (1-2). MVP: McCaskill

Game Three: Cleveland, angry at its poor play in the series, takes out its vengeance against California starter Ron Romanick, scoring nine earned runs in the first three innings. Omar Vizquel and Manny Ramirez both have four hits and four RBIs in the rout, while both David Justice and Wil Cordero drive home three. Former California star Mark Langston goes six for the Tribe to take home his first win of the year in the blowout victory.

Cleveland 17, California 2. W: Langston (1-0); L: Romanick (0-2). MVP: Ramirez