AL: LA ANGELS (92-66) at TEXAS (74-84) <h3>Angels looking to avoid sweep against Rangers</h3> LA Angels (92-66) at Texas (74-84), 2:05 pm EDT ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimwill be looking to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of theTexas Rangers when the teams meet Wednesday afternoon. Texas has won the first two games of the series starting rookiepitchers Armando Galarraga and A.J. Murray, respectively. Bothpitchers were making their first career starts and the Rangerswill send out another rookie on Wednesday. Luis Mendoza (1-0, 1.93 ERA) will be making the second start ofhis career when he takes the hill. The 23-year-old righthandergot his first major league win on Friday against Baltimore,allowing one run and four hits over five innings with twostrikeouts. The Angels counter with Joe Saunders (8-4, 4.05). The lefthanderhas lost three of his last four decisions and was defeated inhis last outing on Friday at Seattle. In his only start against the Rangers this season, Saunders gaveup four runs - two earned - on 10 hits in five innings. Hestruck out five and did not factor in the decision. The Angels, who have lost four of five, are also in pursuit ofthe best record in the American League. Anaheim is currently 11/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox (93-64) and two games behindthe Cleveland Indians (93-63). The Rangers have won four straight against the Angels.
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS AT TEXAS -- LINEUPS LA ANGELS TEXAS AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Chone Figgins 3B .339 3 58 Ian Kinsler 2B .268 20 61 Maicer Izturis 2B .288 6 50 Gerald Laird C .223 8 45 Vladimir Guerrero DH .323 26 123 Michael Young SS .312 9 90 Garret Anderson LF .303 16 80 Sammy Sosa DH .252 20 90 Kendry Morales RF .294 3 14 Marlon Byrd CF .310 10 68 Casey Kotchman 1B .297 11 68 Jason Botts LF .230 2 13 Gary Matthews Jr CF .252 18 72 Nelson Cruz RF .237 8 31 Mike Napoli C .246 9 33 Brad Wilkerson 1B .233 20 62 Erick Aybar SS .235 1 17 Travis Metcalf 3B .235 3 17 Joe Saunders LHP (8-4, 4.05) Luis Mendoza RHP (1-0, 1.93)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS WARMUPS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS (8-4, 4.05) TEX - LUIS MENDOZA (1-0, 1.93) UMPIRES: HP - JIM WOLF 1B - TIM TSCHIDA 2B - JIM JOYCE 3B - JEFF NELSON WEATHER: 87 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 8 mph, out to left</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS -- REVISED WARMUPS WARMUPS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS (8-4, 4.05) TEX - LUIS MENDOZA (1-0, 1.93) UMPIRES: HP - JIM WOLF 1B - TIM TSCHIDA 2B - JIM JOYCE 3B - JEFF NELSON WEATHER: 89 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 8 mph, out to left</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 30 MINUTE DELAY.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS STARTING BATS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS AND MIKE NAPOLI TEX - LUIS MENDOZA AND GERALD LAIRD DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.339, 3 HR, 58 RBI) M IZTURIS (.288, 6 HR, 50 RBI) V GUERRERO (.323, 26 HR, 123 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 TEXAS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS TEX - LUIS MENDOZA DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.268, 20 HR, 61 RBI) G LAIRD (.223, 8 HR, 45 RBI) M YOUNG (.312, 9 HR, 90 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (0) VS TEXAS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338 M Izturis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290 V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .302 K Morales rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297 G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 E Aybar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 S Sosa dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0 TEXAS - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Saunders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.05 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era L Mendoza 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.74 Pitches-strikes: L Mendoza 13-9. Ground balls-fly balls: L Mendoza 1-2. Batters faced: L Mendoza 4. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jeff Nelson. (Plus rain delay totaling 30 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 89 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS CONFIRMED STARTERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS TEX - LUIS MENDOZA</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MICHAEL YOUNG SCORED GERALD LAIRD. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M YOUNG ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0 TEXAS 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR TEXAS: S SOSA (.252, 20 HR, 90 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY SAMMY SOSA (21) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JOE SAUNDERS SCORED MICHAEL YOUNG. CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0, TEXAS 3 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.310, 10 HR, 68 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 TEXAS 3 3 4 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS TEX - LUIS MENDOZA DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: K MORALES (.294, 3 HR, 14 RBI) C KOTCHMAN (.297, 11 HR, 68 RBI) G MATTHEWS JR (.252, 18 HR, 72 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (0) VS TEXAS (3) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338 M Izturis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290 V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .302 K Morales rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297 G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 M Napoli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 E Aybar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 G Laird c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .224 M Young ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .313 S Sosa dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .254 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310 J Botts lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .235 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .236 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Totals 7 3 4 3 0 1 1 BATTING: 2B - G Laird (18, J Saunders). HR - S Sosa (21, 1st inning off J Saunders 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Young (91), S Sosa 2 (92). Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0 TEXAS - 3 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Saunders 1 4 3 3 0 1 1 4.27 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era L Mendoza 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.74 Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 24-14; L Mendoza 13-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Saunders 0-2; L Mendoza 1-2. Batters faced: J Saunders 7; L Mendoza 4. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jeff Nelson. (Plus rain delay totaling 30 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 89 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: N Haynes hit for G Matthews Jr. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, C KOTCHMAN ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0 TEXAS 3 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: N Haynes (.256, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL LA ANGELS AT TEXAS NOTE: LOS ANGELES CENTER GARY MATTHEWS LEFT THE GAME IN THE TOP OF THE SECOND INNING WITH AN APPARENT LEFT LEG INJURY.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 0 0 2 0 TEXAS 3 3 4 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS TEX - LUIS MENDOZA DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.233, 20 HR, 62 RBI) T METCALF (.235, 3 HR, 17 RBI) I KINSLER (.267, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (0) VS TEXAS (3) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338 M Izturis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290 V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .302 K Morales rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .291 C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297 G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 a-N Haynes ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275 M Napoli c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .245 E Aybar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Totals 7 0 2 0 1 2 4 a-reached on infield single to shortstop for G Matthews Jr in the 2nd. BATTING: Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: CS - C Kotchman (4, 3rd base by L Mendoza/G Laird). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 G Laird c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .224 M Young ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .313 S Sosa dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .254 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310 J Botts lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .235 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .236 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 Totals 7 3 4 3 0 1 1 BATTING: 2B - G Laird (18, J Saunders). HR - S Sosa (21, 1st inning off J Saunders 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Young (91), S Sosa 2 (92). Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (G Laird-T Metcalf). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0 TEXAS - 3 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Saunders 1 4 3 3 0 1 1 4.27 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era L Mendoza 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 1.59 Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 24-14; L Mendoza 31-19. Ground balls-fly balls: J Saunders 0-2; L Mendoza 1-2. Batters faced: J Saunders 7; L Mendoza 8. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jeff Nelson. (Plus rain delay totaling 30 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 89 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: N Haynes in center field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 0 TEXAS 3 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B Wilkerson (.233, 20 HR, 62 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 0 0 2 0 TEXAS 3 0 3 5 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS TEX - LUIS MENDOZA DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: E AYBAR (.235, 1 HR, 17 RBI) C FIGGINS (.338, 0-FOR-1) M IZTURIS (.290, 1-FOR-1)</div>
