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Angels-Giants Preview

Jun 16, 2009 - 6:24 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (33-29) at San Francisco (34-29), 10:15 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels have piled up the runs during a four-game winning streak, but one of their key offensive contributors won't be with them for at least a few games.

The Angels will be without center fielder Torii Hunter on Tuesday night when they continue a three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants.

Los Angeles (33-29) has scored 35 runs during its winning streak, including a 9-7 victory to open this series Monday. The win, though, was overshadowed by an injury to their Gold Glove center fielder.

Hunter sustained bruised ribs after he crashed into the outfield wall trying to catch a double by Bengie Molina in the fourth inning. Hunter, who has hit safely in nine straight, left the game and underwent X-rays on his right ribcage and results were normal.

He was to be re-evaluated Tuesday to determine when he could play again, and hopes to be ready Friday. Gary Matthews Jr. replaced him in center and went 0 for 2.

"I'm a little sore," Hunter said, a protective brace cinched around his middle. "That's the hardest I've hit the wall in a long time. My right arm and my elbow kind of jabbed me in the ribs."

The Angels hit four home runs Tuesday as part of a 16-hit attack. Los Angeles has homered 13 times in the last four games, with Hunter hitting four of them.

"I don't think it's a fluke," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We've been saying all along we felt we had more power potential on this team than we were showing. These last four games it's showing up in a big way."

San Francisco (34-29) had its three-game winning streak snapped Monday despite Pablo Sandoval's first career multihomer game. Sandoval went 3 for 5 with two homers and four RBIs.

The Giants will try to even this series behind Jonathan Sanchez (2-6, 4.84 ERA), who is 0-2 with a 5.52 ERA in his last three starts, lasting past the fifth inning just once in that span. He gave up one run, allowed seven walks and hit a batter over 5 2-3 innings in a 2-1 loss at Arizona on Thursday.

"He did a good job," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He gave us a chance. We just couldn't get on the board."

Sanchez is 2-2 with a 2.22 ERA in four career interleague starts. This will be the left-hander's first start against Los Angeles.

Sean O'Sullivan will make his major league debut for the Angels in place of Ervin Santana, who will have his turn skipped while he nurses a strained muscle in his forearm. O'Sullivan will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, where he went 5-2 with a 6.02 ERA in 10 starts this year.

"He's a sinker-slider guy with a pretty good change," catcher Jeff Mathis told the Angels' official Web site. "He's like (Jered) Weaver - not overpowering but good command, moving his fastball in and out."

The 21-year-old right-hander led all pitchers in the Angels' farm system with 16 wins last season at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. He was a third-round draft choice in 2005.