Lackey Puts Away Doubts

What seemed like an incendiary combination -- struggling starter John Lackey going against a Cleveland team that pounded the New York Yankees for 22 runs Tuesday night -- was doused by the Angel right-hander Sunday night.

Lackey, who gave up 27 earned runs and 47 hits, including eight homers, in 32 2/3 innings of his six August starts for a 7.44 earned-run average, rebounded with one of his best games of the season, giving up one unearned run and two hits in 7 1/3 innings and striking out five in the Angels’ 2-1 victory over the Indians.

Lackey (12-11) had a no-hitter with two out in the sixth before Travis Hafner broke it up with a double over the head of center fielder Garret Anderson. Hafner scored on Adam Kennedy’s fielding error -- only the second error the Angel second baseman has made in 60 games -- but the Indians were unable to inflict any further damage.

“Lack made some terrific adjustments, and he was down in the zone the whole night,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He pitched the kind of game we know he can bring us on a consistent basis. It was magnified by the time of year and the team he pitched against. They can pressure you in a lot of ways, and he kept making pitches.”

Fastball location was the key to Lackey’s success, especially early in the game, when he hit both corners consistently.

“Then I went to the breaking ball later in the game, once I established the fastball, and that helped me,” said Lackey, who was roughed up by the Red Sox for six runs -- four earned -- and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings Tuesday night. “It’s always nice to pitch well and contribute when the team is in a pennant race. We needed this win.”

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Set-up man Francisco Rodriguez’s game-ending strikeout of Ben Broussard gave him 109 strikeouts this season, tying the franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever in a season, set by DeWayne Buice in 1987.

But it was his eighth-inning strikeout of Omar Vizquel with the tying run on third base and the infield in that was most impressive. Vizquel is one of the American League’s tougher hitters to fan, but Rodriguez got him with three consecutive sliders.

“There’s no words to describe it,” catcher Bengie Molina said of Rodriguez’s slider. “It’s so good that he’s not afraid to throw it to anyone.”

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Left fielder Jose Guillen underwent tests on his swollen right wrist and was examined by team physician Craig Milhouse in Southern California on Sunday. The Angels did not reveal results of the tests, but Scioscia remained confident the slugger would return Tuesday or Wednesday against Toronto.