AL: LA ANGELS (76-54) at SEATTLE (73-55) <h3>Angels have momentum for critical series with Mariners</h3> <div class="pre">LA Angels (76-54) at Seattle (73-55) 10:05 pm EDT</div> SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are lookingto increase their American League West advantage when theyvisit the Seattle Mariners on Monday for the opener of animportant three-game series. Escobar threw eight stellar innings and Garret Anderson homeredas the Angels posted a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays onSunday, which extended their division lead over the Mariners totwo games. Seattle suffered a 5-3 setback to the Texas Rangers on Sunday,thanks to a strong performance by Vincente Padilla and a two-runshot from Sammy Sosa. Los Angeles will send their ace, John Lackey (15-8, 3.34 ERA),to the mound. Lackey has lost his last two starts but has beenphenomenal against Seattle this season. The 28-year-old righthander has hurled 15 scoreless innings inhis two starts - both wins - against the Mariners this year.Lackey is 8-8 with a 4.27 ERA against them in his career. Seattle will counter with Miguel Batista (13-9, 4.57), who iscoming off his worst start of the season. The Dominicanrighthander was tagged for eight runs and nine hits over justtwo innings in a 8-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. The Mariners still hold a two-game advantage of the New YorkYankees (72-58) in the AL wild card race.
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">LA ANGELS AT SEATTLE -- LINEUPS LA ANGELS SEATTLE AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Reggie Willits DH .299 0 32 Ichiro Suzuki CF .353 5 54 Orlando Cabrera SS .308 8 74 Jose Vidro DH .318 5 53 Vladimir Guerrero RF .319 21 104 Jose Guillen RF .295 19 81 Garret Anderson LF .279 9 51 Raul Ibanez LF .283 15 83 Maicer Izturis 3B .279 5 39 Adrian Beltre 3B .283 20 77 Gary Matthews Jr CF .264 16 69 Richie Sexson 1B .212 21 63 Kendry Morales 1B .268 2 7 Kenji Johjima C .282 14 52 Howie Kendrick 2B .312 4 19 Jose Lopez 2B .262 8 52 Jeff Mathis C .204 1 14 Yuniesky Betancour SS .290 8 51 John Lackey RHP (15-8, 3.34) Miguel Batista RHP (13-9, 4.57)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE WARMUPS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY (15-8, 3.34) SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA (13-9, 4.57) UMPIRES: HP - GARY DARLING 1B - LARRY PONCINO 2B - BRUCE DRECKMAN 3B - JERRY MEALS WEATHER: 70 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 8 mph, left to right</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE STARTING BATS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY AND JEFF MATHIS SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA AND KENJI JOHJIMA DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R WILLITS (.299, 0 HR, 32 RBI) O CABRERA (.308, 8 HR, 74 RBI) V GUERRERO (.319, 21 HR, 104 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 SEATTLE 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: I SUZUKI (.353, 5 HR, 54 RBI) J VIDRO (.318, 5 HR, 53 RBI) J GUILLEN (.295, 19 HR, 81 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (0) VS SEATTLE (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301 O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308 V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 K Morales 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 BATTING: GIDP - O Cabrera. Team LOB - 0. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353 J Vidro dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 J Guillen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 R Ibanez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 R Sexson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-R Sexson). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0 SEATTLE - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.34 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.54 Pitches-strikes: M Batista 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: M Batista 2-1. Batters faced: M Batista 3. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE CONFIRMED STARTERS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 SEATTLE 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.279, 9 HR, 51 RBI) M IZTURIS (.279, 5 HR, 39 RBI) G MATTHEWS JR (.264, 16 HR, 69 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (0) VS SEATTLE (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301 O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308 V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 K Morales 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 BATTING: GIDP - O Cabrera. Team LOB - 0. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .353 J Vidro dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .282 A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 R Sexson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-R Sexson). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0 SEATTLE - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.32 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.54 Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 20-12; M Batista 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 1-0; M Batista 2-1. Batters faced: J Lackey 4; M Batista 3. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from left.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY GARRET ANDERSON (10) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF MIGUEL BATISTA. CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1, SEATTLE 0 DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M IZTURIS (.279, 5 HR, 39 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 1 1 2 0 SEATTLE 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: A BELTRE (.283, 20 HR, 77 RBI) R SEXSON (.212, 21 HR, 63 RBI) K JOHJIMA (.282, 14 HR, 52 RBI)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (1) VS SEATTLE (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301 O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308 V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 G Anderson lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .281 M Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 K Morales 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 Totals 7 1 2 1 0 0 1 BATTING: HR - G Anderson (10, 2nd inning off M Batista 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Anderson (52). GIDP - O Cabrera. Team LOB - 0. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .353 J Vidro dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .282 A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 R Sexson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-R Sexson). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 01 -- 1 SEATTLE - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.32 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.57 Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 20-12; M Batista 24-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 1-0; M Batista 2-4. Batters faced: J Lackey 4; M Batista 7. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Jerry Meals. EJECTIONS: SEATTLE's Mclaren by Meals (1st). Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from left.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 1 1 2 0 SEATTLE 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: H KENDRICK (.312, 4 HR, 19 RBI) J MATHIS (.204, 1 HR, 14 RBI) R WILLITS (.301, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (1) VS SEATTLE (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301 O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308 V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319 G Anderson lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .281 M Izturis 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 K Morales 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 Totals 7 1 2 1 0 0 1 BATTING: HR - G Anderson (10, 2nd inning off M Batista 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Anderson (52). GIDP - O Cabrera. Team LOB - 0. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .353 J Vidro dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .282 A Beltre 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-R Sexson). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 01 -- 1 SEATTLE - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.30 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.57 Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 31-19; M Batista 24-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 3-1; M Batista 2-4. Batters faced: J Lackey 7; M Batista 7. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Jerry Meals. EJECTIONS: SEATTLE's Mclaren by Meals (1st). Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from left.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL LA ANGELS AT SEATTLE NOTE: SEATTLE MANAGER JOHN MCLAREN WAS EJECTED BY THIRD BASE UMPIRE JERRY MEALS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING FOR ARGUING A FOUL TIP CALL.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE GROUND RULE DOUBLE BY GARRET ANDERSON SCORED JEFF MATHIS AND ORLANDO CABRERA. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, G ANDERSON ON SECOND, V GUERRERO ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 3 SEATTLE 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M IZTURIS (.278, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 1 2 3 5 0 SEATTLE 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J LOPEZ (.262, 8 HR, 52 RBI) Y BETANCOURT (.290, 8 HR, 51 RBI) I SUZUKI (.353, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (3) VS SEATTLE (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .301 O Cabrera ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .309 V Guerrero rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320 G Anderson lf 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 .283 M Izturis 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276 G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 K Morales 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311 J Mathis c 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .204 Totals 13 3 5 3 0 1 4 BATTING: 2B - G Anderson (25, M Batista). HR - G Anderson (10, 2nd inning off M Batista 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Anderson 3 (54). 2-out RBI - G Anderson 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Izturis 2. GIDP - O Cabrera. Team LOB - 2. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .353 J Vidro dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .282 A Beltre 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-R Sexson). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 012 -- 3 SEATTLE - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.30 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 3 5 3 3 0 1 1 4.66 HBP - J Mathis (by M Batista). Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 31-19; M Batista 45-31. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 3-1; M Batista 3-5. Batters faced: J Lackey 7; M Batista 14. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Jerry Meals. EJECTIONS: SEATTLE's Mclaren by Meals (1st). Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from left.</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - LA ANGELS 0 1 2 3 5 0 SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOHN LACKEY SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G MATTHEWS JR (.263, 0-FOR-1) K MORALES (.263, 0-FOR-1) H KENDRICK (.311, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: LA ANGELS at SEATTLE <div class="pre">LA ANGELS (3) VS SEATTLE (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .301 O Cabrera ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .309 V Guerrero rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320 G Anderson lf 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 .283 M Izturis 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276 G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 K Morales 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311 J Mathis c 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .204 Totals 13 3 5 3 0 1 4 BATTING: 2B - G Anderson (25, M Batista). HR - G Anderson (10, 2nd inning off M Batista 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Anderson 3 (54). 2-out RBI - G Anderson 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Izturis 2. GIDP - O Cabrera. Team LOB - 2. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .354 J Vidro dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .319 J Guillen rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .294 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .282 A Beltre 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Lopez 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264 Y Betancourt ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .289 Totals 12 0 3 0 0 3 6 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Guillen 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-R Sexson). ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS - 012 -- 3 SEATTLE - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 3 3 0 0 0 3 0 3.29 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 3 5 3 3 0 1 1 4.66 HBP - J Mathis (by M Batista). Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 48-31; M Batista 45-31. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 4-2; M Batista 3-5. Batters faced: J Lackey 12; M Batista 14. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Jerry Meals. EJECTIONS: SEATTLE's Mclaren by Meals (1st). Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, in from left.</div>
