Angels, Indians Resume Matchup Of Hot Teams
(Sports Network) - Jered Weaver will try to pitch the LA Angels of Anaheim back into the win column tonight, when the current American League West leaders resume a three-game series versus the Cleveland Indians at Angel Stadium.The Angels own an 8 1/2-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the division, but had their five-game winning streak come to an end with Monday's 5-2 loss versus the Indians in the opener of this series. Angels starter Ervin Santana surrendered four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits and fanned eight over seven frames to absorb the loss. The right-hander fell to 0-6 in seven lifetime starts against the Indians. Howie Kendrick finished 3-for-4 with a solo home run for Los Angeles, which is 3-1 on a six-game homestand and 29-21 as the host this season. Weaver will try to give the Halos their 30th win at home on Tuesday, and is 8-8 with a 4.03 earned run average in 19 outings this season. He has alternated wins and losses over his last five decisions, but did not factor in the outcome of a 5-4 loss at Texas on July 9. The lanky righty held Texas to two runs, one of which was earned, on seven hits in six innings during the setback. Weaver, who is 4-4 in nine home starts this season, owns a 1-1 mark and a 5.09 ERA in four career appearances against the Indians. Cleveland, which is last in the AL Central, has been playing very well as of late, having won three straight and seven of its last eight games. The Tribe won the last two tests of a three-game series at Seattle over the weekend before Monday's victory over Anaheim. Andy Marte and Jhonny Peralta both homered and Casey Blake added a two-run shot for the Indians, who are 3-1 on a six-game road trip and 18-32 as the visitor in 2008. Starter Paul Byrd allowed one run on nine hits and struck out five batters over 5 1/3 innings to pick up his first win since June 6. He had lost each of his last five decisions. Rafael Perez then gave up one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief before Masahide Kobayashi struck out the side in the ninth to notch his sixth save. With CC Sabathia in Milwaukee and Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook still injured, the Indians will send Matt Ginter to the mound on Tuesday. Ginter was thrust into the starting rotation on July 12 versus Tampa Bay and hurled five shutout innings with five K's for the win -- his first since May 21, 2004. Ginter, a right-handed Mississippi State product, is 1-1 with an 8.72 earned run average over nine career games (1 start) against Anaheim. The Angels took two of three from the Indians in Anaheim earlier in the season.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.










