LACKEY, ANGELS STOPPED PITCHER'S SCORELESS RUN, TEAM'S WIN STREAK END CLEVELAND 6, ANGELS 4.

Byline: BEN VILLA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- Normally, pounding out 13 hits and scoring four runs would be good enough to get John Lackey a win, but on Wednesday, all he got for his trouble was a quick trip to the showers.

Lackey's scoreless streak was snapped at 30 2/3 innings and Paul Byrd came back to beat his former teammates as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Angels 6-4 in front of 43,744 at Angel Stadium.

The loss snapped the Angels' season-high eight-game winning streak and it also dropped them a game and a half behind Oakland for first place in the American League West.

``I couldn't care less about the scoreless streak,'' Lackey said. ``I'm just trying to win and we didn't today. I threw a lot of pitches but I don't think I got tired. They just found some holes.

``But it's only one game. You can't panic and I'll be fine. It's been a while since we lost. It's a strange feeling, but I guess that's a good thing.''

Lackey entered Wednesday's game as the hottest pitcher in the American League, having thrown two consecutive complete game shutouts, but against the Indians he had to work to get of trouble in every inning.

And in the top of the fifth inning, the Indians finally broke through. They sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring five runs, highlighted by a two-run home run by Ben Broussard that snapped Lackey's scoreless streak.

Jhonny Peralta later added a two-run single, and after Lackey gave up an RBI double to Joe Inglett followed by a walk to Casey Blake, he was done for the day after only 4 2/3 innings and 107 pitches.

``Maybe John got a little tired because of the weather,'' Angels catcher Jose Molina said. ``It was hot out there and his command was a little off. But it was just a bad outing, that's baseball and it's going to happen sometimes.''

With a 5-1 lead, Byrd almost gave it right back. The former Angel allowed a season-high 10 hits in six innings, but he did just enough to get the win.

He allowed RBI singles by Vladimir Guerrero in the first and fifth inning, and Juan Rivera hit a solo home run off him in the fourth.

It was Rivera's 14th homer of the season and eighth this month.

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Angels had a chance to tie the score when Chone Figgins came up with runners on first and second with two out. Figgins hit a bullet off Byrd down the right-field line that appeared headed for extra bases, but Casey Blake make a spectacular diving catch to end the threat.

``Paul made pitches to get off the hook all game long, and that play in right field was huge,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``If it falls, it's a tie game and if it gets past Blake, then maybe Chone rounds the bases and scores himself.

``We had our opportunities but Paul made pitches when he had to and he let his defense help him.''

Down by two runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Angels threatened to tie the game when Guerrero came to the plate with Orlando Cabrera on second base. But instead of hitting a dramatic home run, Indians closer Bob Wickman struck him out on a ball in the dirt to record his 15th save of the season.

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Angels pitcher John Lackey, right, and catcher Jose Molina confer during the fourth inning Wednesday.

(2) The Angels' Chone Figgins steals second base as the ball gets away from Cleveland's Jhonny Peralta.

Ric Francis/Associated Press

(3) Cleveland's Paul Byrd delivers a pitch in the first inning. Byrd, who was with the Angels last season, allowed three runs in six innings for the win.

Oscar Hidlgo/Associated Press

Box:

ANGELS at KANSAS CITY

- Ben Villa