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A's take aim at 10th straight win vs. Angels

Sep 3, 2012 - 2:31 PM (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics take aim at a 10th straight win on Monday when they begin a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Coliseum.

Oakland's roll continued this past weekend, as it swept a three-game series over the reeling Boston Red Sox. The A's completed the whitewash on Sunday, as Stephen Drew went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Oakland's 6-2 win.

Seth Smith was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored for the red-hot Athletics, who are in the midst of their best stretch since running off 10 straight wins in June of 2006.

They also share the wild card lead with Baltimore and are just three games back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West.

"We're doing things pretty well," said A's manager Bob Melvin.

That includes Brett Anderson (3-0), who went six innings, giving up one run on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Anderson has a 0.90 ERA in three starts since coming off the disabled list after missing more than a year recovering from Tommy John surgery.

"To give us three games with that type effort with the magnitude of the games ... it's all really impressive," said Melvin.

Heading to the hill on Monday will be lefty Tommy Milone, who has allowed just one run in winning his last two starts. Milone scattered seven hits over six scoreless innings on Tuesday in Cleveland, as he ran his record to 11-9 to go along with a 3.73 ERA.

Milone has beaten the Halos twice this season, pitching to a 3.27 ERA in the process.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will be looking to get back on track on Monday after having a five-game win streak stopped on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to Seattle.

Jered Weaver (16-4) gave up two runs on eight hits en route to the loss. Weaver also matched a career high with four walks and only three strikeouts.

"He was grinding out there today," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "Obviously he didn't have his best stuff. He gave us a chance to win and we'll see how he feels in the next couple days moving forward."

Hoping for a better effort today, the Angels hand the ball to lefty C.J. Wilson, who earned his first victory in 12 starts in his last outing. Wilson beat the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, limiting them to three runs and eight hits in six innings to improve to 10-9 with a 3.86 ERA.

He had pitched to a 6.09 ERA during his 11-game drought.

"It's a big step forward for C.J.," Scioscia said. "He got away from some of the things that make him so good. He's a lot better pitcher than he showed for the last month."

Wilson lost to the A's the last time he faced them and is 6-7 with a 3.56 ERA in 40 games (11 starts) against them.

Oakland is 7-5 versus the Angels this season.