NewsYoung, Rangers set for AL West leaders
Texas (40-34) vs. Los Angeles (41-32), 7:05 p.m. CT
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
06/29/09 12:37 AM ET
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers haven't yet reached the halfway point of the season but the Ballpark in Arlington should take on a "big game" feel this week when the AL West-leading Angels arrive in town. The two teams open a three-game series on Monday, only the second of six series between these two teams this season. The Rangers swept three from the Angels in May at home, but have yet to play in Anaheim. The two teams will open a three-game series in Anaheim a week from Monday, meaning six of the Rangers' next nine games will be against the Angels. "The significance is these are games in our own division," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "You always want to play well within your division. As long as your winning within your division, you have a chance." The Rangers are 13-3 against their division to this point going into the three-game set with the Angels. "It's a significant series, but either way it's not going to determine the division title," Rangers third baseman Michael Young said. "It's a series against an inter-division team in the middle of the season. It should be fun." "It's big," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. "Whenever you play a team that's playing well, that's in first place or right there, it's big. They know we're coming in. They're ready to go. It's going to be a battle." The Angels moved into sole possession of first place on Saturday night after the Rangers had been in first or tied for the lead in the AL West for 53 straight days. They had sole possession of first for 48 straight days, including by 5 1/2 games on May 30. But the Angels come into town having won 16 of their past 23 games, including five in a row. "We expect the Angels to play well," Young said. "Good teams play well. Whether we're playing them or not, we always expect the Angels to play good baseball. We expect the same out of ourselves." The two teams are not in this alone. The Mariners have won 18 of their past 28 games and are three games out of first. "We're all good teams," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "It's going to be a battle all year." Pitching matchupTEX: RHP Vicente Padilla (6-3, 4.48 ERA)
Padilla is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his past four starts after a 2-1 victory over the D-backs on Wednesday night at Chase Field. He allowed one run on six hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out three and is also 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA in his past eight starts. Padilla is 3-2 with a 5.54 ERA in seven starts at home this season. One of those victories came against the Angels on May 16 when he allowed three runs in eight innings and he is 6-3 with a 4.72 ERA in 13 games, including 12 starts, against the Angels in his career. LAA: RHP Sean O'Sullivan (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
O'Sullivan is making his third Major League start. He has pitched in 10 games for the Salt Lake City Bees in Triple-A, with a 5-2 record with a 6.02 ERA and 35 strikeouts. The El Cajon, Calif. native was originally selected by the Angels in the third round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of Grossmont (Ca.) College. He beat the Giants, 8-1, in his first Major League start on June 16, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings. He allowed three runs on six hits in his last start against the Rockies and the Angels in a 4-3 victory.
Tidbits
Rangers broadcaster Eric Nadel will miss Monday's game against the Angels because of a second surgery on his right eye to reinforce the retina attachment. He may miss Tuesday's game as well. He'll be back at some point during the homestand but is unable to fly and won't do the next road trip to Anaheim and Seattle. ... Derek Holland on Saturday night became the first pitcher in Major League history to pitch less than six innings, strike out at least eight batters and allow at least 13 hits. ... Catcher Taylor Teagarden is day-to-day with the stomach flu.
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• 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270 (Español) Up next
• Tuesday: Rangers (Scott Feldman, 5-2, 4.06) vs. Angels (Joe Saunders, 8-4, 3.66), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Rangers (Kevin Millwood, 8-5, 2.64) vs. Angels (Jered Weaver, 8-3, 2.65), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Off-day
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
