ANOTHER ROOKIE GETS SUPPORT ANGELS BACK SAUNDERS WITH 7 RUNS IN WIN ANGELS 7, CLEVELAND 5.

Byline: BEN VILLA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- You know you're on a roll when you lose two of your best starting pitchers to minor injuries, replace them with rookies and then watch the newcomers win their starts.

Just ask the Angels, whom for the second straight night started a rookie pitcher against a high-powered offense and came away with a victory.

Joe Saunders scattered four hits in seven innings to earn his first major-league victory, and Juan Rivera belted two home runs as the Angels won their eighth game in a row, beating the Cleveland Indians 7-5 Tuesday night in front of 44,020 at Angel Stadium.

``I think Joe showed what he can do,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``That's a great offensive club he faced and he managed to get them to ground into a lot of double-play balls.

``They pressured him early in the game, but he settled down and made some great pitches against some outstanding hitters.''

Despite the victory, the Angels remained a half-game back of the Oakland Athletics (who beat Baltimore 5-4) for first place in the American League West. But even so, it seems the Angels can do no wrong these days.

They improved to 13-1 in July, tying the franchise record for the best start in any month, and they've also won seven straight games at home. And with a 48-45 record, they're now a season-best three games above .500. To top things off, they have won the past two games with two of their most inexperienced pitchers on the mound.

Monday, Kelvim Escobar was put on the disabled list and Dustin Moseley took his place, going five innings to win his first career game in a 10-5 decision against the Indians.

Tuesday, Saunders started for the injured Jered Weaver, who is out with tendinitis in his right biceps, and all the left-hander did was shut down the Indians, who rank fourth in the major leagues with a .283 batting average.

Saunders allowed a first-inning run on Victor Martinez's RBI single, but he settled down after that and watched as the Angels' defense turned four double plays in the first five innings.

Saunders left to a standing ovation after the seventh inning, allowing just one earned run and striking out five.

But just like Moseley, who was sent back to Triple-A Salt Lake after his win, Saunders learned after Tuesday's game that he's going back to the minors. The Angels optioned Saunders to Triple-A and recalled outfielder Reggie Willits.

``It's a little disconcerting, but I kind of knew I was going to get sent down after the game,'' Saunders said. ``It was a one-and-done situation, but at least it was a good one.

``I had two starts last year and I didn't get a win, so it's pretty special to finally get it tonight. All I can do is pitch well and make it harder on the organization to keep me in the minor leagues.''

Trailing 1-0, the Angels scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Orlando Cabrera led off with a double, then came home on a Vladimir Guerrero single that tied the score at 1-1. Mike Napoli followed with a walk and after Rivera flew out, Tim Salmon snapped a 0-for-13 streak by giving the Angels the lead for good on a RBI double to right that scored Guerrero.

With Napoli on third and Salmon on second, rookie second baseman Howie Kendrick came through with a two-run single to give the Angels a 4-1 lead. They scored their final run of the inning after Chone Figgins singled to right field with Robb Quinlan on first base. After Casey Blake mishandled the ball in the outfield, Quinlan came around to score the Angels' fifth run.

Rivera hit his 12th home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning against Indians starter Cliff Lee. In the eighth, Rivera hit another solo shot off reliever Brian Sikorski, who had been acquired earlier in the day from the San Diego Padres.

It was Rivera's third multiple home-run game of the season -- all three of which have come this month -- and it was the sixth time he has done it in his career.

``Right now, Rivera is on fire and when he's playing like that, he gives us a deeper look,'' Scioscia said. ``We're looking pretty good right now offensively, and it was nice to beat a left-hander and that's what we're going to have to do to stay in this race.''

The Indians mounted a rally in the top of the ninth inning after Kevin Gregg got two strikeouts, as the next four batters singled.

With the tying run at the plate, Francisco Rodriguez was called on to record the save.

Rodriguez gave up an RBI single to Grady Sizemore to cut the Angels' lead to 7-5. But Indians pinch-hitter Todd Hollandsworth flew out to Guerrero in right field, giving Rodriguez his 23rd save.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Angel's Joe Saunders gave up one run and four hits in seven innings on his way to his first major-league win.

(2) Juan Rivera, right, is greeted by Angels third-base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a home run in the sixth inning.

(3) The Angels' Howie Kendrick follows through on a two-run single in the sixth inning Tuesday.

Francis Specker/Associated Press

Box:

ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND

- Ben Villa