LA Angels Of Anaheim (26-20) At Toronto Blue Jays (23-23), 7:07 P.m.
(Sports Network) - John Lackey makes his second start of the season this evening when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play the first of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Lackey had been sidelined since spring training with a strained biceps, but returned from his first trip to the disabled list on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. The 19-game winner from a year ago was effective, surrendering just a run and six hits in seven innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 6-1 loss. The 29-year-old right-hander has faced the Blue Jays seven times and is 2-2 against them with a 3.57 ERA. Lackey can only hope for the same kind of run support that Jered Weaver got from the Halos on Sunday in a 10-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the rubber match of the Freeway Series. Mike Napoli swatted two home runs and drove in a career-high five runs in that one, while Torii Hunter was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs batted in and a run scored. Weaver (3-5) was cruising until the fourth when he allowed the only two runs of the day for the Angels. He lasted only 5 1/3 innings, but still earned the win, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out seven. The Angles, who will be starting a six-game road trip tonight, has lost four straight on the road. Toronto, meanwhile, enters tonight's tilt on the heels of taking two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies in an interleague affair at Citizens Bank Ballpark. On Sunday, Lyle Overbay slugged a pinch-hit three-run homer, as the Blue Jays held on for a 6-5 win. Shannon Stewart had a two-run double and former Phillie Rod Barajas finished 2-for-3 with an RBI for Toronto, which has won six of its last seven games. The victory moved Toronto back to .500 for the first time since it was 10-10 on April 21. Jason Frasor (1-0) picked up the win, despite allowing a run in 1 1/3 innings. B.J. Ryan earned his ninth save of the season. Heading to the hill tonight for the Jays will be right-hander Dustin McGowan, who is 2-3 with a 4.38 ERA. McGowan received a no-decision on Thursday against Minnesota on Thursday, as he gave up two runs and two hits in five innings of a 3-2 win. McGowan is 0-2 lifetime against the Angels with a 3.45 ERA in four games, two of which have been starts. Toronto won four of its seven meetings with the Angels last season and is 15-8 in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign. The Halos have also won just twice in their last 10 visits north of the border in that time.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.





