Jason Kipnis chose the perfect time to collect his 1st major league hit.
The Indians' young 2nd baseman rifled a 2-out, RBI single into right field to cap an exhilarating bottom of the 9th inning.
When the last of the 9th began, the Angels enjoyed a 2-1 lead, but the Tribe revealed its penchant for dramatics yet again.
Facing the hard-throwing Jordan Walden, Michael Brantley laced a lead-off single. Brantley then swiped 2nd base before Asdrubal Cabrera stuck out. However, Cabrera's whiff did not faze the Indians because the next batter, Travis Hafner, crushed a game-tying RBI double off the left field wall. Hafner was replaced by Orlando Cabrera, who became nothing more than a spectator as Walden walked Carlos Santana and drilled Jack Hannahan.
Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia, realizing that Walden could no longer throw strikes, yanked his rookie closer and summoned Hisanori Takahashi. Scioscia also employed a 5-man infield that turned Travis Buck's grounder into an out at home plate. The Angels did not use the shift against Kipnis, and he lined his walk-off single where the extra infielder had previously been stationed. Kipnis jogged to 1st, turned around, and was mobbed by his elated teammates.
Dan Haren overwhelmed the Tribe for 7 2/3 frames, allowing only an Asdrubal Cabrera 1st inning RBI single while recording 10 Ks. Fortunately, Haren's pitch count of 123 forced the Halos' bullpen to work the 9th.
Fausto Carmona tossed 6 scoreless innings, but Bobby Abreu's 2-run homer in the 8th prevented Fausto from earning his 6th victory.
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| Kipnis (middle) ended Cleveland's 4-game skid |
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