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Orioles-Angels Preview

Jul 2, 2009 - 5:47 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Baltimore (35-43) at Los Angeles (42-34), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels are back in Anaheim for the next 10 games. Facing the last-place Baltimore Orioles could help them get off to a solid start on their homestand.

The AL West-leading Angels look to continue their recent dominance at home versus the Orioles on Thursday night when they open a four-game set.

Juan Rivera hit a game-tying three-run homer in the ninth as Los Angeles (42-34) rallied from a six-run deficit Wednesday, but the Angels lost 9-7 to Texas when Justin Speier surrendered a two-run home run to Hank Blalock in the bottom of the inning.

"They're owning us right now," center fielder Torii Hunter said after Los Angeles fell to 1-5 versus the second-place Rangers. "We're playing good games against them. They just seem coming through with the big hit."

After dropping the final two games on a 4-2 road trip, the Angels return home where they've won 14 of 19 against the Orioles since Aug. 2, 2005.

John Lackey (2-3, 5.06 ERA) will take the mound for Los Angeles. The right-hander, who missed the first six weeks of the season with elbow inflammation, is 0-2 with a 5.28 ERA in two starts at Angel Stadium.

Lackey struck out nine and gave up one unearned run in seven innings on Saturday, but didn't get a decision in a 2-1 win over Arizona. All five hits Lackey allowed were singles.

"(Lackey) changed elevation real well," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said. "He'd throw the fastball eye-level, then the curveball below the zone. We had him on the ropes, then he settled down into a nice groove."

Lackey is 6-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 10 starts versus Baltimore.

The Orioles (35-43) open their seven-game West Coast trip following Wednesday's 6-5, 11-inning loss to Boston. A day after rallying with 10 runs in the seventh and eighth innings for an 11-10 win, Baltimore allowed four runs in the ninth and fell to 29-2 when leading after eight.

The Orioles look to avoid their fourth straight road loss as Jeremy Guthrie (6-7, 5.11) tries to win his third straight start.

The right-hander yielded three runs and five hits over five innings in Saturday's 6-3 win over Washington. He gave up back-to-back singles to open the game and walked three in the first inning - two with the bases loaded - but he allowed just three more hits in his final four frames.

"That's what pitching is," Guthrie said of competing through rough stretches. "Being able to grind through the tough ones and hopefully being able to take advantage of the situation when you're pitching really well.

"This was a huge win that I can't take much credit for. I think the defense and the hitting was why we won this game tonight."

He's 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two career starts in Anaheim.

Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones is expected to be back in the lineup after missing Wednesday's game with soreness in his right side. Jones was 4 for 8 with a homer as the Orioles lost twice to the visiting Angels on April 28-29.

Also on Wednesday, Orioles outfielder Luke Scott hit his first home run in 15 games. He leads the club with 15 this year, and his only career hit off Lackey is a solo homer.

Hunter is batting just .250 (6 for 24) in a six-game hitting streak for the Angels. He has four hits in six career at-bats against Guthrie.