ANGELS DROP ONE TO INDIANS GUERRERO'S MISCUE IN SIXTH TRIGGERS L.A. DOWNFALL CLEVELAND 14, ANGELS 2.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

CLEVELAND -- Sometimes it is the most docile of plays that can have the most impact.

A lazy looper down the right-field line in the sixth inning that would have been the third out, instead was dropped by Vladimir Guerrero and the Cleveland Indians buried the Angels under an avalanche of runs in an eventual 14-2 victory.

With two outs and runners on second and third base in a 2-2 tie, Kelvim Escobar got Ronnie Belliard to send a floater down the right-field line that was tailing away from Guerrero. After a sprint of 30 yards, the ball hit off Guerrero's glove and fell to the ground to give the Indians a 4-2 lead.

They didn't relent until eight runs had crossed the plate in the inning, four coming on the third grand slam of the season by Travis Hafner.

``I know it sounds funny to say, that game was closer than the score ended up,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We battled back to get in it and actually had some momentum, we just couldn't get a hit with the bases loaded in the sixth. Then the bottom of the sixth happened.''

The Indians sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning and managed to chase starter Kelvim Escobar, who was making his first appearance since signing a three-year, $28.5-million extension last week.

After a slow start when he allowed a run on 30 pitches in the first inning, Escobar settled down to give up only a solo home run to Grady Sizemore before the sixth.

Guerrero's drop was similar to a flyball he missed while on the run May 18 against the Toronto Blue Jays. A run scored on that play and the Angels went on to lose that game in 10 innings as another misplay by Guerrero led to more runs.

``It was a tough play,'' Escobar said. ``He's coming in hard and was getting close to the (stands). It was a tough play, you know?''

Guerrero's drop not only was the start of the Indians' run-scoring frenzy, it led to even more miscues by the Angels' defense. Orlando Cabrera had a groundball bounce off the heel of his glove that allowed the Indians' sixth inning to continue and Adam Kennedy made a fielding error in Cleveland's four-run eighth inning.

Tommy Murphy, who replaced Guerrero in right field in the late innings, also had a ball hit off his glove in the eighth, but he was not given an error.

Escobar (5-6) lost his fourth consecutive decision despite giving up just two earned runs. He allowed eight total runs.

Cliff Lee (4-5) was sharp for the Indians until the sixth when it looked like he was about to implode. With two outs, he gave up back-to-back singles to Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera.

Garret Anderson delivered a two-run double and after an intentional walk to Guerrero, Tim Salmon was hit by a pitch. But Kendry Morales grounded out to second base to end the threat.

If Guerrero would have caught Belliard's fly ball, the Angels would have still been in business in the seventh inning. As it was though, the last nine Angels batters were retired in order after the Indians broke the game open.

``This is not an easy right field to play because the ball caries out there and the stands come up quickly,'' Scioscia said.

After losing six consecutive games, the Angels still are in position to win their fourth consecutive series and can do it tonight in a nationally televised game.

``We've been through this before and it's just one game,'' Escobar said. ``We just have to come back (today) and make sure we play better. We have to continue to play better and have better results.''

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Brendan Donnelly walks off after the sixth inning after giving up a grand slam to Cleveland's Travis Hafner.

(2) Cleveland's Travis Hafner, right, is greeted by teammates after hitting a grand slam.

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

(3) LACKEY

Box:

ANGELS at CLEVELAND

- Doug Padilla