Angels beat Indians, 6-3

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Trout singled and Albert Pujols drove in a run for the Los Angeles Angels in their 6-3 win over theCleveland Indians on Wednesday.

Trout singled to load the bases in the first inning against Cody Anderson. Pujols’ slow roller drove in Yunel Escobar, who reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Francisco Lindor.

“We’re starting to see better at-bats, which are leading to more runs,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Angels newcomer Gregorio Petit hit two home runs off Anderson, who is competing for the open spot in Cleveland’s rotation.

Jason Kipnis and Mike Napoli homered in the first off Angels starter Nick Tropeano. It was Napoli’s third home run with the Indians.

“You are starting to see Kipnis at his best. He’s playing back-to-back games,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “He can backspin that ball to left-center as well as anyone. That’s a good sign. There is nothing Napoli has done that I haven’t been impressed with.”

Tyler Naquin had two hits for the Indians. Naquin, the team’s first pick in the 2012 draft, is taking advantage of Michael Brantley’s absence while the All-Star outfielder recovers from shoulder surgery.

The Angels have won five and tied one in their last six games.

“How you win games is more important right now. Some of our rotation is in flux, but the guys vying for positions are showing very well,” Scioscia said.

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STARTING TIME

Angels: Tropeano pitched four innings, giving up three runs and four hits. He struck out two.

“My fastball was running out over the plate in the first inning,” said Tropeano, who will likely be one of the team’s five starters when the season begins. “I slowed down a little. My breaking ball was better this time out.”

Indians: Anderson also went four innings. He was hurt by two errors that led to a pair of unearned runs among the six he allowed.

“Cody had good velocity but his pitches were up,” Francona said. “He had 23 pitches that first inning. He got two first-pitch groundballs in the first two innings and we didn’t convert. He limited the damage. That’s what we’ve seen from him since we got him. He doesn’t get flustered.”

IT’S A SICKNESS

The flu has traveled through Indians camp. Zach McAllister missed 13 days with illness but returned Wednesday to pitch a scoreless inning with a strikeout.

“He looks like he lost weight,” Francona said. “It’s good to have him back. We can build him to three innings and be good with it.”

1B-DH Carlos Santana, bullpen coach Jason Bere and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh were sent home with upper respiratory ailments. Assistant hitting coach Matt Quatraro coached third base.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: Jered Weaver was scratched from his scheduled start against the Reds on Monday with degenerative changes in the vertebrae of his neck. He was slated to throw a bullpen this week and his next scheduled start is Saturday. … LHP C.J. Wilson has inflammation in his elbow and is not throwing right now.

Indians: Brantley will play in a minor league game Thursday. The team plans to meet with him and the training staff to determine if Brantley will play in Cactus League games. He can be placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 25 if he doesn’t appear in a big league spring training game after that date. … Lonnie Chisenhall was scratched from the lineup with tightness in his right forearm.

ROSTER MOVE

The Indians optioned LHP Giovanny Soto to Triple-A Columbus.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Hector Santiago starts against Colorado on Thursday.

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar starts against Reds RHP Robert Stephenson.

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