He Has Wright Stuff Long Enough to Win

Rookie Jaret Wright came within one out of his first major-league shutout Saturday.

But Wright, the son of former Angel pitcher Clyde Wright, had to settle for his third victory in five major league starts as the Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics, 6-3.

“Sure, I wanted a shutout,” said Wright, 21. “But I’m never unhappy to get the win.”

Wright (3-1) gave up three runs--two earned--and six hits in 8 2/3 innings as the Indians ended a three-game losing streak. He walked two and struck out eight, including Mark Bellhorn three times and Damon Mashore and Jose Canseco twice.

Jose Mesa relieved Wright after Dave Magadan drove in a run with a double and Scott Spiezio’s single scored Magadan.

“He probably wouldn’t have started the ninth if the score was 6-1 or 6-2,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said. “His pitch count was a bit high [135], but we wanted to give him the chance for the shutout.”

Jim Thome, Matt Williams, Marquis Grissom and Tony Fernandez hit solo homers for Cleveland.

Mashore left the game after injuring his left shoulder on a diving attempt to make a catch. The A’s said Mashore and Canseco, who fouled a ball off his left foot in the fourth, would be examined by doctors and their status announced today.

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NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

WHO: Cleveland Indians

WHERE: Jacobs Field, Cleveland

WHEN: Monday: 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Tuesday: 4 p.m.

Wednesday: 4 p.m.