MLB Game Preview - LA Angels at Cleveland

Sat Aug 3, 2019 7:10 PM EDT

The Cleveland Indians benefited from an early uprising in the series opener to continue their recent mastery of the Los Angeles Angels.

The Indians aim to keep the Angels under their thumb on Saturday when the clubs reconvene in Cleveland for the second contest of their three-game set.

Yasiel Puig ripped an RBI single in both the first and second innings in Friday's 7-3 victory as the Indians improved to 13-1 in their last 14 home encounters against the Angels and 19-4 in the last 23 meetings overall in the series.

Puig is 3-for-7 in two games since being acquired from Cincinnati in a three-team trade on Wednesday.

"I feel excited to be here with my new team," Puig said. "Everybody shows me a lot of love, respect and appreciation. I want to give them the most I can to help the team win."

Francisco Lindor has recorded multi-hit efforts in three consecutive contests and six of his last eight. The 25-year-old is 27-for-65 with three homers, eight RBIs and 14 runs scored in his last 14 games.

Lindor joined four other Cleveland players with two hits in the series opener, while Roberto Perez went deep for his third homer in three games.

"You'd love to string hits together, but any number of those guys is liable to hit one in the seats, which is a good feeling," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We'll have our nights, I'm sure, but it's nice to see them grinding up there. I thought they did a good job."

Cleveland, which has won 14 of its last 19 to pull to within three games of American League Central-leading Minnesota, got off to a fast start, as its first five batters reached base against an opener.

"Generally the opener has worked pretty well for us," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "Every once in a while, it's not going to work out the way you want. Today was that day."

Los Angeles reportedly will employ the same strategy -- but hope for different results -- on Saturday when it sends an unannounced opener to the mound before turning over the keys to right-hander Felix Pena (8-3, 4.66 ERA).

Pena received a no-decision in his last outing after permitting four runs (one earned) on three hits in five innings versus Baltimore.

The 29-year-old lost his lone career encounter versus the Indians despite yielding two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Cleveland will counter with right-hander Adam Plutko (3-2, 4.83), who will bid to snap a six-game winless stretch on Saturday.

Plutko received his fifth no-decision in that span after allowing three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings against Kansas City.

The 27-year-old California native has yet to face the Angels in his career, although Brian Goodwin (2-for-4) and Justin Upton (1-for-1) each have a homer against him.

Speaking of homers, Angels star Mike Trout went deep for the second time in as many games on Friday to increase his season total to an American League-best 36.

--Field Level Media