Belle’s Homers Bedevil the Angels

ANAHEIM —  No, the Angels didn’t hit any home runs over the weekend. Nor did they keep Albert Belle from hitting them.

He hit one Friday night. He hit one Saturday night. He hit one Sunday afternoon.

So while the Angels haven’t hit a homer since July 6, Belle has a streak of his own.

It was a little bit of springtime in July.

“I seem to have found the groove I was in during spring training,” said Belle, who had 11 exhibition homers, more than anyone else in the majors.

He has 15 now, in 61 games. He’s hit more than anyone else on Cleveland’s roster, which isn’t saying much. The Indians have hit 47, fewer than any team in the majors.

Against the Angels in a four-game series that began Thursday, Belle went 7 for 16, with three homers and six runs batted in.

“Albert Belle is the type of hitter and the type of talent that can carry a ballclub,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said. “He and Glenallen Hill have been doing that.”

Hill hit a two-run homer Sunday that was a companion to Belle’s two-run homer in the Indians’ 5-2 victory. Both were off Mark Langston.

Belle’s came on a full-count fastball.

“It was a tough pitch to me. I really didn’t get a chance to get my arms extended,” Belle said. “But he left it over the plate a little bit. I pretty much muscled it out of the ballpark.”

No one has ever doubted Belle’s muscle or ability. But he has had a turbulent career, most publicly when he threw a ball at a fan in Cleveland when the Angels visited in May. The fan had taunted Belle about the drinking problem he dealt with last year, when he interrupted his season to seek treatment. Belle later served a suspension for throwing at the fan.

His troubles this season continued when he was sent down to triple-A Colorado Springs by former manager John McNamara for not hustling.

Belle has been back since June 26, and since then has hit .359 with six homers and 15 RBIs. Overall, he’s batting .287.

“I’m just going to play hard. That’s all a manager can ask, is 110%,” Belle said. “Usually my stats come in bunches. Bunches of home runs and RBIs when I’m going good. When I’m going bad, bunches of strikeouts and grounding into double plays.”

The flare-ups of temperament that have stamped his reputation are in check again. Belle’s usual demeanor is calm, measured and accommodating.

Those fans who begged him to throw them a foul ball from left field during the Indians’ visit might forgive him if he didn’t toss them one as a favor.

Instead, on the cautious side, Belle threw at least one into the Cleveland bullpen.

“No, I wasn’t going to throw a ball to them,” he said. “They get enough balls during our batting practice.”