Polonia Catches Belle on a Stroll : Baseball: Indian thought he had a grand slam, but Angel outfielder gets him, the key play in 7-5 victory.

Once he knew Albert Belle’s line drive would stay fair and he had no play on any of the three runners scrambling home, Angel left fielder Luis Polonia knew what he had to do next.

“He was walking like he hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Polonia said. “Because I was alert, I make things happen. If we don’t get that last out in the eighth inning, who knows what would happen? Maybe we’d still be playing out there.”

Polonia’s throw to second baseman Rene Gonzales trapped Belle between first and second, where he was tagged out on a play that squelched a Cleveland comeback and allowed the Angels to hold on to a 7-5 victory Friday at Cleveland Stadium.

After Mark Lewis’ two-run home run against a rapidly tiring Mark Langston (2-1) stirred the crowd of 9,367, the Indians loaded the bases on two walks around Gary Gaetti’s second error of the game. Not wanting to use Mark Eichhorn, who had pitched 2 2/3 innings Thursday, Angel Manager Buck Rodgers summoned Chuck Crim, who had given up at least one run in each of his previous five appearances.

Belle, the Indians’ RBI leader, worked the count to 3-and-1 before launching a drive about halfway up the left-field fence.

Polonia realized he had no play on Kenny Lofton, Thomas Howard or Tony Perezchica, so he made a strong throw to Gonzales, who relayed to first baseman Alvin Davis for the tag.

Belle’s trip back to the dugout was an even slower journey, because he knew Manager Mike Hargrove was waiting for him.

“I was telling him it was obviously the wrong thing to do,” Hargrove said of Belle, who left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters.

“It shouldn’t happen again. Everyone in the park thought it was out . . . we were just waiting to see if it would stay fair. While it’s understandable, it’s not acceptable.”

Said Rodgers, who thought Belle’s drive would be a home run: “The play he made on Belle when Belle was watching the ball at first base was a big, big play.

“He makes the play, it’s two out and nobody on.”

Bryan Harvey came in to get the final out of the eighth and got through the ninth with one glitch, when Brook Jacoby struck out but reached on a wild pitch.

Harvey struck out pinch-hitter Paul Sorrento and Lewis grounded into a force play for Harvey’s seventh save.

Harvey’s performance--coupled with Alvin Davis’ two-run single during the fifth and two runs batted in by new AL RBI leader Junior Felix--helped the Angels win their fifth consecutive game in Cleveland.

Said Langston, who struck out six in working 7 1/3 shutout innings: “With that big a lead, I’ve got to complete that game.

“I would have loved to give the bullpen a night off.

“We’re swinging the bats real well and everybody’s chipping in. If we can get everybody on the pitching staff clicking at the same time, this team should be all right.”

Polonia singled during the first inning against Scott Scudder (1-3) and took second when Lofton bobbled the ball.

Polonia scored after Felix grounded to shortstop and first base umpire Rich Garcia ruled Lewis’ throw had pulled first baseman Jacoby off the bag.

Polonia also scored during the fifth after getting an opposite-field single to left. He took third on Chad Curtis’ double and scored ahead of Curtis on Davis’ single to right. Gaetti’s double scored Felix, who had walked, but Davis was thrown out at the plate.

After Mike Fitzgerald led off the sixth with his first homer of the season, Polonia later singled, increasing his average to .297. He leads the Angels with 18 runs scored and 12 walks but has only three stolen bases.

“We’re going to do some things and we’re going to make things happen,” said Polonia, who had 48 steals last season but was caught a league-leading 23 times.

“We’re not waiting for somebody to hit the ball. We’re going to do the little things we didn’t do last year.

“We’re swinging pretty good and scoring. Everything’s working all together.”