Hafner Lifts Indians to Win Over Angels

Speier's no K-Rod for LA; Westbrook goes distance for Cleveland
By Chip Bayers,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:57 AM CDT
Hafner Lifts Indians to Win Over Angels
Cleveland Indians' Travis Hafner, left, rounds the bases after his two-run homer as Los Angeles Angels pitcher Justin Speier looks on during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 8, 2008. The Indians won 4-3.    (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer off emergency closer Justin Speier with two outs in the ninth inning, and Jake Westbrook earned his first complete game since 2006. Speier, forced to close because of Francisco Rodriguez's ankle problems, got the last out in the eighth and retired his first two batters in the ninth before walking Asdrubal Cabrera.

Hafner drove the right-hander's next pitch far over the right-field fence for his second homer, costing Speier his first save since 2004 with Toronto. It also ended the Angels' streak of victories in games in which they led after eight innings at 163. Until Tuesday, They hadn't lost under those circumstances since April 19, 2006, at Minnesota. Los Angeles extended the streak Monday on Torii Hunter's grand slam in the ninth. (More Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim stories.)

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