AL: TEXAS (62-73) at LA ANGELS (80-55) <h3>Lackey looks to become majors' first 17-game winner</h3> Texas (62-73) at La Angels (80-55), 8:05 pm EDT ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - John Lackey is a big reason theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim hold the largest division lead ofany team in the majors. Lackey will try to become the majors' first 17-game winner inthe rubber game of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers onSunday. Lackey (16-8, 3.18 ERA) is coming off a dominant performance inwhich he held the Seattle Mariners to just seven hits in a 6-0win on Monday. Despite dropping a 7-6 decision on Saturday, the Angels (80-55)still hold a 6 1/2 game lead in the American League West overthe fading Seattle Mariners (73-61), who have lost eightstraight. Marlon Byrd had three hits and David Murphy drove in a pair ofruns as the Rangers won for the sixth time in the last sevengames, but are still mired in last place in the AL West. Lackey's opposition, Kason Gabbard (6-1, 3.79), has been abright spot for Texas since he was acquired from the Red Sox atthe trade deadline. Gabbard is looking for his third straightwinning decision. On Tuesday, the righthander received ano-decision after allowing three runs and four hits in 4 2/3innings of a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">TEXAS AT LA ANGELS -- LINEUPS TEXAS LA ANGELS AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Ian Kinsler 2B .262 17 51 Reggie Willits CF .296 0 32 Ramon Vazquez 3B .238 7 25 Orlando Cabrera SS .310 8 75 Michael Young SS .304 7 69 Vladimir Guerrero DH .329 22 109 Marlon Byrd CF .310 7 56 Garret Anderson LF .288 12 62 Brad Wilkerson 1B .236 18 57 Maicer Izturis 3B .278 5 41 Nelson Cruz RF .215 7 25 Howie Kendrick 2B .322 4 25 Hank Blalock DH .285 5 16 Juan Rivera RF .000 0 0 Gerald Laird C .225 8 42 Robb Quinlan 1B .228 3 19 David Murphy LF .417 1 7 Jeff Mathis C .216 2 16 Kason Gabbard LHP (6-1, 3.79) John Lackey RHP (16-8, 3.18)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS WARMUPS: TEX - KASON GABBARD (6-1, 3.79) LAA - JOHN LACKEY (16-8, 3.18) UMPIRES: HP - LANCE BARKSDALE 1B - BILL HOHN 2B - JIM REYNOLDS 3B - GARY CEDERSTROM WEATHER: 101 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 11 mph, out to center</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS STARTING BATS: TEX - KASON GABBARD AND GERALD LAIRD LAA - JOHN LACKEY AND JEFF MATHIS DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.262, 17 HR, 51 RBI) R VAZQUEZ (.238, 7 HR, 25 RBI) M YOUNG (.304, 7 HR, 69 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 1 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R WILLITS (.296, 0 HR, 32 RBI) O CABRERA (.310, 8 HR, 75 RBI) V GUERRERO (.329, 22 HR, 109 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .309 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 H Blalock dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 D Murphy lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: S - R Vazquez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1. Team LOB - 1. LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 V Guerrero dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322 J Rivera rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Quinlan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 LA ANGELS - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.78 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.16 Pitches-strikes: J Lackey 8-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lackey 2-0. Batters faced: J Lackey 4. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Bill Hohn. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 97 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS CONFIRMED STARTERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 1 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.236, 18 HR, 57 RBI) N CRUZ (.215, 7 HR, 25 RBI) H BLALOCK (.285, 5 HR, 16 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .309 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 H Blalock dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 D Murphy lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: S - R Vazquez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1. Team LOB - 1. LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311 V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322 J Rivera rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Quinlan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (18, 2nd base off K Gabbard/G Laird). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.73 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.16 Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 17-11; J Lackey 8-7. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 2-1; J Lackey 2-0. Batters faced: K Gabbard 4; J Lackey 4. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Bill Hohn. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 97 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 1 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M IZTURIS (.278, 5 HR, 41 RBI) H KENDRICK (.322, 4 HR, 25 RBI) J RIVERA (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .309 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214 H Blalock dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 D Murphy lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417 Totals 6 0 1 0 0 3 1 BATTING: S - R Vazquez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1. Team LOB - 1. LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311 V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322 J Rivera rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 R Quinlan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (18, 2nd base off K Gabbard/G Laird). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 LA ANGELS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.73 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 3.14 Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 17-11; J Lackey 23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 2-1; J Lackey 2-1. Batters faced: K Gabbard 4; J Lackey 7. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Bill Hohn. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 97 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 1 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: G LAIRD (.225, 8 HR, 42 RBI) D MURPHY (.417, 1 HR, 7 RBI) I KINSLER (.264, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .309 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214 H Blalock dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 D Murphy lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417 Totals 6 0 1 0 0 3 1 BATTING: S - R Vazquez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Vazquez-I Kinsler-B Wilkerson). LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311 V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278 H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 J Rivera rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 R Quinlan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 4 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1. GIDP - J Rivera. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (18, 2nd base off K Gabbard/G Laird). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.68 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 3.14 Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 26-16; J Lackey 23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 5-1; J Lackey 2-1. Batters faced: K Gabbard 7; J Lackey 7. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Bill Hohn. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 97 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY IAN KINSLER (18) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF JOHN LACKEY SCORED DAVID MURPHY. CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2, LA ANGELS 0 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R VAZQUEZ (.238, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 2 2 3 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R QUINLAN (.228, 3 HR, 19 RBI) J MATHIS (.216, 2 HR, 16 RBI) R WILLITS (.295, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">TEXAS (2) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .266 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 M Young ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .303 M Byrd cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .308 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214 H Blalock dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 G Laird c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225 D Murphy lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .432 Totals 11 2 3 2 0 5 3 BATTING: HR - I Kinsler (18, 3rd inning off J Lackey 1 on, 1 Out). S - R Vazquez. RBI - I Kinsler 2 (53). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Vazquez-I Kinsler-B Wilkerson). LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311 V Guerrero dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278 H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 J Rivera rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 R Quinlan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 4 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1. GIDP - J Rivera. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (18, 2nd base off K Gabbard/G Laird). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 002 -- 2 LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.68 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 3 3 2 2 0 5 1 3.22 HBP - R Vazquez (by J Lackey). Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 26-16; J Lackey 44-32. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 5-1; J Lackey 2-2. Batters faced: K Gabbard 7; J Lackey 13. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Bill Hohn. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 97 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JEFF MATHIS (3) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF KASON GABBARD SCORED ROBB QUINLAN. CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2, LA ANGELS 2 DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R WILLITS (.295, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 2 2 3 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 2 2 2 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.235, 0-FOR-1) N CRUZ (.214, 0-FOR-1) H BLALOCK (.283, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">TEXAS (2) VS LA ANGELS (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .266 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 M Young ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .303 M Byrd cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .308 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214 H Blalock dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 G Laird c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225 D Murphy lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .432 Totals 11 2 3 2 0 5 3 BATTING: HR - I Kinsler (18, 3rd inning off J Lackey 1 on, 1 Out). S - R Vazquez. RBI - I Kinsler 2 (53). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Vazquez-I Kinsler-B Wilkerson). LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 O Cabrera ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311 V Guerrero dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .327 G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287 M Izturis 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278 H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 J Rivera rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 R Quinlan 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .228 J Mathis c 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .222 Totals 10 2 2 2 2 0 4 BATTING: HR - J Mathis (3, 3rd inning off K Gabbard 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - J Mathis 2 (18). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1. GIDP - J Rivera. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (18, 2nd base off K Gabbard/G Laird). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 002 -- 2 LA ANGELS - 002 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 3 2 2 2 2 0 1 3.87 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Lackey 3 3 2 2 0 5 1 3.22 HBP - R Vazquez (by J Lackey). Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 46-27; J Lackey 44-32. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 7-2; J Lackey 2-2. Batters faced: K Gabbard 12; J Lackey 13. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Bill Hohn. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: 97 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TEXAS at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 2 0 2 3 0 LA ANGELS 0 0 2 2 2 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD LAA - JOHN LACKEY DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.287, 0-FOR-1) M IZTURIS (.278, 0-FOR-0, BB) H KENDRICK (.321, 0-FOR-1)</div>