OPPORTUNITY LOST FOR ANGELS WESTBROOK FRUSTRATES L.A. AS INDIANS GET SHUTOUT WIN CLEVELAND 4, ANGELS 0.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

CLEVELAND -- Jake Westbrook teased the Angels all night, giving them tantalizing opportunities and then snatching them all away in the Cleveland Indians' 4-0 win Wednesday.

Two on in the first ... no Angels runs. Two on in the second ... nothing.

Two on in the third ... same story. Two on in the fifth certainly would yield something, especially since there were no outs. It only led to more frustration.

Here's how it became obvious it was Westbrook's night: With the speedy Chone Figgins on first base in the in the fifth inning, the nearly equally speedy Maicer Izturis grounded into a double play.

As if to show he wasn't really playing with fire, Westbrook got Izturis to ground into another double play in the eighth with Figgins on first.

The Angels had nine hits, but hit into three costly double plays as they were shut out for the fifth time this season. It was the first time the Angels had been shut out since June 5.

``We had him on the ropes early and it just seemed like we couldn't get that one hit to break it open,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Give Westbrook credit. He got the ground balls, he got the double plays, they played good defense behind him.''

All the more frustrating was that the Angels missed an opportunity to gain a game on the Oakland Athletics, who were pounded by the Texas Rangers 14-0. The Angels were aware of the chance to pick up ground because they were watching the afternoon A's game before they took the field for batting practice.

``Yeah, (it was frustrating) especially because we were playing well the first couple of games of the road trip,'' said Adam Kennedy, who hit into a double play in the second inning with runners on first and second. ``We just didn't put it together today. There was an opportunity there.''

While Westbrook stunted the early opportunities, the Indians were able to break through for three runs in the third inning off Angels starter John Lackey. The Indians have now defeated the right-hander twice in his past five starts, including a victory July 19 when they snapped his 30 2/3-inning scoreless streak.

``I felt pretty good, really,'' Lackey said. ``I definitely felt like I pitched better than what the numbers are going to show.''

Lackey (10-8) gave up four runs (three earned) in six innings on nine hits, but by his own count only three of those hits were well struck.

Since earning pitcher-of-the- month honors in July for going 5-1with a 2.08 ERA, Lackey is now 0-2 with an 8.71 ERA in his first two August starts.

Unlike Kennedy, Lackey didn't feel bothered the Angels weren't able to cut Oakland's American League West lead to two games.

``There is too much time left to worry too much about that,'' Lackey said. ``We definitely knew what happened over there. It would have been nice, but there's lots of time left. This thing is probably going to be close enough where it's probably going to be a head-to-head deal, anyway.''

Howie Kendrick's defense proved costly as he couldn't dig out a throw from Orlando Cabrera in the second inning, allowing a run to score. Kendrick, who is learning on the job at first base, tried to make a backhand scoop of Cabrera's throw.

``That play was not a routine hop for a first baseman,'' Scioscia said. ``I think Howie is feeling more comfortable getting to the bag and stretching, but on that throw, he did what you had to try to do. He had to try to sweep and pick it, and he couldn't come up with it.''

Kendrick did deliver a hit in three at-bats, but struck out twice. The rookie now has hit safely in 18 of his past 19 games and is batting .367 with 11 RBI since being recalled for the second time in July.

Vladimir Guerrero and Figgins each delivered two hits, but Westbrook (9-7) was able to dance around it all. Guerrero is batting .366 since July 1, while Figgins is batting .326 in his career against the Indians.

Starting with Izturis' first double play in the fifth inning, Westbrook retired 14 of the last 15 Angels batters.

``(Westbrook) was able to get out of a couple of jams early and kind of found it,'' Lackey said. ``That's the way it is with most good pitchers. If you don't get them early, you're going to let them get into a groove and it's going to be tough late.''

With the Indians' bullpen struggling all season, it was no wonder Westbrook -- who threw 111pitches -- was allowed to go the distance.

It was the 11th Indians shutout this season, second in the major leagues to only the Detroit Tigers.

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Despite giving up nine hits, Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook pitched a shutout against the Angels.

(2) Angels second baseman Adam Kennedy leaps to stop the throw from catcher Jose Molina as Cleveland's Shin-Soo Choo steals second base.

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

Box:

ANGELS at CLEVELAND

- Doug Padilla