This time, Angels’ Jordan Walden slams the door shut

Reporting from Cleveland — Jordan Walden returned Tuesday to the scene of the crime.

A night earlier, he had his pocket picked on the mound at Progressive Field, retiring only one of the five batters he faced as the Cleveland Indians rallied for a walkoff win over the Angels.

The scenario was eerily similar Tuesday when Walden came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning to protect a 2-1 lead against the heart of the Indians’ lineup. So when Travis Hafner led off with a bad-hop single off the edge of the infield, it looked as if the Angels rookie was in for another mugging.

“Facing Hafner again, and then that basehit off the lip. I was like Omigod!” Walden said. “I made my pitch and it hit the lip of the grass.”

The next two batters reached base, loading the bases with nobody out. A night earlier, Manager Mike Scioscia wouldn’t let Walden finish the inning. This time the bullpen stayed quiet and Walden responded, getting Matt LaPorta to ground into a double play then striking out Jordan Kipnis with the tying and winning runs in scoring position.

“I don’t think Jordan had to do it for himself. But obviously, in the big picture of we’re trying to groom a closer, that’s a great statement he made,” Scioscia said.

Walden has experienced so many ups and downs this season it’s a surprise he hasn’t gotten the bends. He has saved an Angels rookie-record 24 games and pitched in the All-Star game, for example. But he has also blown seven save chances, most in the majors.

In Scioscia’s mind, averting disaster Tuesday was another milestone.

“For everyone watching him, for his major league development as far as becoming a closer, it’s important for him to show that he can turn the page,” he said.

Walden agreed.

“For me to blow it last night and have the chance to come back tonight and get the save was awesome,” he said. “It gives me some confidence coming back.”

Refreshing pause

Scioscia plans to rest third baseman Alberto Callaspo in Wednesday’s afternoon finale in Cleveland and might also sit center fielder Peter Bourjos.

“We’re trying to keep some guys fresh on what’s been a real tough trip,” Scioscia said. “There’s a lot of day games we’re going to be playing in hot weather that could eventually catch up to you.”

But both players have struggled with more than the weather lately.

Bourjos is hitless in four games since returning from the disabled list, striking out four times in his last seven at-bats. And Callaspo, despite leading the team with a .359 average in July, has driven in only two runs this month, both on his final swing before the All-Star break.

Scioscia says the fault isn’t Callaspo’s since the guys hitting in front of him — Vernon Wells, Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter — have a combined on-base percentage of less than .285 this month. But when Callaspo has had chances to drive in runs he hasn’t taken advantage. After batting .340 with runners in scoring position in April and May combined, he has hit only .167 since.

kevin.baxter@latimes.com