WEAVER DOMINANT AGAIN ROOKIE PITCHER WINS HIS SECOND STRAIGHT START ANGELS 10, INDIANS 3.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

CLEVELAND --- Jered Weaver at least showed he was human Friday, yet dominating nonetheless.

The rookie finally gave up a run, but it came in the seventh inning of his second career start as the Angels opened a six-game road trip with an easy 10-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The Angels have now won seven of their last nine games since a six-game losing streak.

Weaver (2-0), the former Simi Valley High School star, did not allow a run in his first 12 major-league innings until a Ben Broussard double scored Casey Blake. The 23-year old gave up two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings and has allowed just seven hits in his first two outings with only twoextra-base hits.

He actually has surprised himself with his wildly successful major-league start.

``I didn't expect to start out like this, but you have to give it up to the offense for getting some runs early to take a little pressure off my shoulders,'' Weaver said. ``It's been working the last two starts so we have to keep it going.''

Including his last four starts at Triple-A Salt Lake, Weaver had thrown 40 1/3 straight scoreless innings before Broussard's RBI. It had been so long since he last gave up a run (May 6 against Tacoma) that when asked to recall the last one, Weaver gave a blank stare.

``Not to sound cocky or anything, but I don't remember,'' Weaver said. ``I don't really try to think about that, I just try to keep hitters off balance and attack the strike zone and I've been doing a good job of that.''

Had it not been for Chone Figgins' catch in center field in the fourth inning while slamming into the wall, Weaver's scoreless streak would have ended sooner.

``I guess they're making stadiums with softer walls than they used to back in the day,'' Figgins said. ``I don't think a lot of guys could do that back in the day with those brick walls out there.''

In just two starts, Weaver moved one victory behind his brother Jeff Weaver, who is 3-7 but has won his past two starts.

With Jered Weaver having success and Bartolo Colon possibly eight days away from being activated from the disabled list, manager Mike Scioscia will be faced with the dilemma of what to do with six starters. He doesn't care to reveal too much of that thought process just yet.

``The tough decisions are when you are trying to fill roles with guys that aren't ready or capable of it,'' Scioscia said. ``There could be some tough decisions but it doesn't mean that it won't make us stronger.''

Even Jered Weaver seems understanding of a possible return to Salt Lake.

``You definitely want to stay up here but you have the Cy Young winner getting ready to get his arm in shape,'' Weaver said. ``I had my (chance) and we'll see what happens when he gets back.''

The Angels had a season-high sixsteals and hit three home runs.

Vladimir Guerrero, Dallas McPherson and Garret Anderson all went deep. Anderson's three-run home run in the seventh inning was his first since April 22 at Oakland, a span of 123 at-bats.

As for Weaver, Anderson isn't ready to call his teammate an up-and-coming superstar just yet.

``You don't want to put any unfair expectations on him until you have him go around the league a few times and have them see him over and over,'' Anderson said. ``There have been a lot of guys who skated around early. I'm not saying he's that guy, but you have to get your feet wet. You have to play up here for a little while. But he's off to a good start.''

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) The Angels' Jered Weaver, the former Simi Valley standout, took a two-hit shutout into the seventh inning.

(2) The Angels' Chone Figgins is tagged out at home by Cleveland catcher Tim Laker (Westlake High) in the fifth inning.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Box:

ANGELS at CLEVELAND

-Doug Padilla