Road Rules: Angels try to extend streak at Baltimore

Sep 12, 2007, 14:57 GMT

- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim go for their sixth straight road win this evening when they play the middle contest of a three- game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Vladimir Guerrero returned to the lineup for the Angels in the opener of this set on Tuesday and homered twice to lead LA to a 10-5 win. Chone Figgins had three hits, four RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored while Reggie Willits also had three hits with an RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored for the Angels, who snapped a brief two-game skid and won for the fifth time in their last eight contests overall.

Guerrero missed the previous four games because of an inflamed right triceps.

The Angels, though, did lose center fielder Gary Matthews, who left with a sprained right ankle in the third inning. X-rays on the ankle were negative, and team spokesman Eric Kay said Matthews will likely sit out the remainder of the road trip, which ends Sunday against the White Sox in Chicago.

Joe Saunders (8-3) threw five innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits.

Kevin Millar had three hits including a home run and Melvin Mora also finished with three hits for the Orioles, who have lost 17 of 20.

Victor Santos (1-5), in his Orioles debut, was tagged for five runs on seven hits in just 2 2/3 frames.

The Angels will pin their hopes tonight on right-hander Kelvim Escobar, who has won five of his last six decisions. Escobar picked up the win on Thursday against the Cleveland Indians, as he allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to run his record to 16-7 to go along with a 3.04 ERA.

Escobar is 12-5 lifetime against the Orioles with nine saves and a 4.19 ERA in 35 games, 19 of which have been starts.

Baltimore will counter with righty Daniel Cabrera, who is 9-15 on the year with a 5.11 ERA. Cabrera lost his second straight start and third consecutive decision on Friday against the Boston Red Sox, as he gave up three runs and six hits in just 3 2/3 frames.

Cabrera has faced the Angels five times in his career and is 2-2 against them with a 5.02 ERA.

LA leads the 2007 season series with Baltimore by a 6-2 advantage, with a 3-1 mark at Camden Yards.

© 2007 The Sports Network