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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Winning five in a row for the first time in two
months has put a swagger -- or at least a home-run trot -- back into
the Cleveland Indians.
Roberto Alomar hit two of Cleveland's four homers as the Indians
completed a three-game sweep of the Anaheim Angels 5-2 Sunday.
|  | | Roberto Alomar celebrated his ninth career multihomer game Sunday. |
"This is a make-or-break month for us, and we've got to really
put it on," manager Charlie Manuel said after Cleveland won five
straight for the first time since June 3-7.
Bartolo Colon (10-8) won for the first time since July 9,
sending Anaheim to its season-high fifth consecutive loss. The
right-hander worked out of jams in the third, fourth and fifth
innings.
"Each time, I walked around the mound and thought about what
was working for me in the bullpen," Colon said. "It clicked in my
mind and I got out of it."
Colon struck out Troy Glaus to end the third, got Darin Erstad
on a soft liner to shortstop and Orlando Palmeiro on a flyout in
the fourth, and struck out Bengie Molina in the fifth.
Colon, 0-3 in his previous four starts, allowed two runs and six
hits in seven innings, leaving after his fifth walk, to Garret
Anderson leading off the eighth.
Paul Shuey allowed one hit and struck out three in the eighth.
Bob Wickman pitched a perfect ninth for his second save since
Cleveland acquired him from Milwaukee on July 28 -- when the Indians
made three deals involving 11 players.
"We made those trades and everybody got excited," Alomar said.
"Wickman has taken some pressure from Shuey and Steve Karsay, our
starting pitching is better, and everybody has a lot more
confidence."
Anaheim was swept in a three-game series for the first time this
season and first time at Cleveland since July 1980. The Angels have
lost six of seven and 11 of 15.
"We have to go home and get back on track," Anaheim's Tim
Salmon said. "We've played some bad games, some good games, but
can't catch a break."
Alomar and Jim Thome hit consecutive two-out solo homers off
Brian Cooper (4-7) in the first, with Thome reaching 30 for the
fifth straight season, tying the Indians record set by Albert Belle.
Alomar connected again in the third for his 13th homer, giving
him two multihomer games this season and nine in his career. Einar
Diaz made it 5-2 with a two-run shot in the fourth.
"A sinkerball pitcher giving up all those homers is not what we
were looking for," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Cooper allowed all five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
"Three of the homers, the pitch ran back over the middle of the
plate," Cooper said. "Alomar's second homer was on a changeup. I
have to start getting some ground balls."
Anaheim scored twice in the second, loading the bases with one
out when Salmon and Glaus singled, and Molina was hit by a pitch.
Adam Kennedy's broken-bat popup was lost in the sun by Alomar
near second, but Kennedy was called out on the infield-fly rule.
Salmon scored from third when the ball hit Alomar and rolled
away, with Kennedy getting credit for a sacrifice fly and RBI.
Kevin Stocker followed with an RBI double off the left-field
wall.
Game notes
Rain delayed the start 19 minutes. ... ... Thome also tied
Hall of Famer Earl Averill for second place on the Indians' career
homer list at 226, 16 behind Belle ... Salmon extended his hitting
streak to 14 games, one short of his career high, set in 1995. ...
Anderson has hit in 28 of his last 34 games, raising his average
from .237 to .262.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Anaheim Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
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