Rangers at Angels
Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Angels finally stopped Michael Young and earned a rare win this year over the Texas Rangers.
The Angels may have a tougher time slowing down the Rangers’ top hitter Sunday when they send John Lackey to the mound in the finale of a three-game set.
Young batted .395 in his first 10 games against Los Angeles this year, helping Texas win eight. He was hitless against the Angels for the first time Saturday in a 3-2 loss as his 14-game hitting streak ended.
Texas (61-48) fell 4 1/2 games behind first-place Los Angeles (65-43) in the AL West race. Young and No. 2 hitter Omar Vizquel combined to go 0 for 7 after going 7 for 12 in Friday’s 11-6 win.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Angels -170 moneyline favorites for Sunday’s game against the Rangers. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 69% of more than 168 bets for this game have been placed on the Angels -170.
"Those guys have had our number this year, so it was important to keep their top three guys off base," Angels starter Jered Weaver said.
Young could quickly get back on track Sunday since he’s a career .380 hitter against Lackey (7-4, 3.96 ERA), including 7 for 13 over the last two years.
First baseman Hank Blalock is hitting .344 against Lackey, and has homered in three consecutive games – his longest such streak since connecting in five straight last September.
Lackey seeks to end his home woes against the Rangers. He has posted a 14.59 ERA in losing his last three starts in Anaheim against Texas, yielding six runs over 4 2-3 innings in an 8-5 loss July 7.
The right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA over his last five outings. He gave up four runs over eight innings Tuesday in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton is 7 for 16 (.438) with three homers against Lackey, and 4 for 9 in this series. Hamilton was the center of attention Saturday as he addressed his troubled history with alcohol abuse after a Web site published photos of him cavorting with several scantily clad women in a bar last January.
Hamilton’s inspired comeback from the depths of alcoholism and drug abuse made headlines last season as he led the majors in RBIs and nearly won the Home Run Derby.
"Obviously, I’m embarrassed about it for my wife Katie, for my kids and for the organization," he said. "It’s an ongoing struggle, and it’s real."
Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero is 4 for 9 in this series and 7 for 20 (.350) in five games since returning after missing nearly a month with a strained left knee. Guerrero is hitting .403 in 47 career home games against the Rangers.
Texas rookie Derek Holland (4-7, 5.60) will make his first start against the Angels after going 1-0 with a 9.64 ERA in two relief appearances against them this year.
The left-hander has failed to last past the fifth inning in four outings since rejoining the rotation July 19. Holland is 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA in that span after allowing four runs over 4 1-3 innings in a 6-0 loss at Oakland on Tuesday.
Holland is 0-3 with a 5.13 ERA in five road starts.
Posted: 8/9/09 6:00AM ET
