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Angels continue homestand with visit from Rangers

Thu 28th, August 2008

(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Angels continue to tune up for the postseason as they open a four-game series with the Texas Rangers tonight at Angel Stadium.

Los Angeles enters tonight's tilt having dropped nine of its last 14 matchups, but still leads the second-place Rangers by a whopping 15 games in the AL West. The Angels fell in the rubber match of their three-game affair with the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, dropping a 6-5 decision at McAfee Coliseum.

Erick Aybar went 2-for-4 with three RBI before leaving with a hamstring issue for the Angels. Howie Kendrick had one RBI, but also exited the game with a tight hamstring.

Joe Saunders (14-7) took the loss for Anaheim after he lasted just 1 1/3 innings and yielded six runs on eight hits. Saunders now has two losses and no wins over his last five starts.

Jon Garland gets the call for the Halos tonight as he tries to bounce back from a pair of shaky outings. Garland, who is 11-8 with a 4.49 ERA, did not get a decision on Saturday against Minnesota, surrendering five runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings of his team's 7-5 win.

Garland lost to the Rangers the last time he faced them and is 4-8 lifetime against them with a 5.87 ERA in 18 games, 17 of which have been starts.

Texas will counter with righty Brandon McCarthy, who will be making just his second start of the season. McCarthy received a no-decision against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, allowing just a run and three hits in four innings of the Rangers' 8-7 loss.

McCarthy has faced the Halos six times (2 starts) and is 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA.

The Rangers won their third straight game on Wednesday, as Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored to lead Texas to a 3-2 victory and a series sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

Matt Harrison (6-3) threw 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits to earn the win, his fourth in August. Frank Francisco tossed a scoreless ninth to record his first career save for Texas.

The Rangers were without slugger Josh Hamilton, who was scratched from the lineup before the game with an abscessed tooth. He was replaced by Brandon Boggs, who started in left field and homered during the game. Marlon Byrd moved from left field to center with Hamilton out.

The Angels have won five of their nine matchups with the Rangers this season.