Swisher’s 10th-Inning Grand Slam Lifts Indians over Angels, 5-3

Jun 19, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ernesto Frieri (49) walks off the mound after giving up a game-winning home run in the tenth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Ernesto Frieri didn’t load the bases full of Cleveland Indians in the 10^th inning. He wasn’t even charged with more than a run. What the unpredictable closer did was close out the game in typical Frieri fashion; he gave up a game-winning run.

After Albert Pujols pushed the Los Angeles Angels ahead with a two-run single, rookie Cam Bedrosian was called upon in search of his first career save. Bedrosian (0-1) only got one out, loading the bases with a double and two walks. Mike Scioscia pulled the shaky right hander in favor of another.

Frieri forced David Murphy to pop out before facing struggling right fielder Nick Swisher, who entered the contest with a .200 batting average. Frieri got ahead 1-2 with a heavy dose of fastballs. Swisher wasn’t fooled on the fourth, launching the closer’s high heater inches over the right field wall.

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Frieri’s third blown save is also the third outing in a row yielding at least on run. His 5.83 ERA is third-highest in Major League Baseball for anyone with 11 or more saves.

C.J. Wilson’s stellar outing goes for naught. Nearly a week after Atlanta scorched the southpaw for four first-inning runs, he limited Cleveland to one through seven frames Thursday afternoon. The only viable threat was in the third when Michael Bourn’s groundout scored Yan Gomes.

Angels batters faced similar troubles with Indians’ starter Justin Masterson. Howie Kendrick led off the second innings with a double, and advanced to third base on Raul Ibanez’ grounder to shortstop. He subsequently scored the Angels’ only run off Masterson on a wild pitch; the former All-Star’s ninth of the season. Masterson scattered four hits through seven innings and struck out five.

Los Angeles was 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. They were 5-for-24 over three games at Progressive Field; a series cut short by yesterday’s rainout.

Mike Trout extended his hitting streak to 13 in a row, going 1-for-3 with a run and two walks. He’s reached base in 36 of his last 37 games, dating back to May 5.