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Jul 18, 2009 - 6:40 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (50-38) at Oakland (38-50), 4:10 p.m. EDT

After enduring a night in which their pitchers lacked control, the Los Angeles Angels will turn to a starter who has been throwing a lot of strikes lately.

The Angels will have their wins leader on the mound in Jered Weaver when they continue their four-game road series Saturday against the Oakland Athletics.

Los Angeles (50-38) issued eight walks - one shy of a season high - Friday in a 7-3 loss. The Angels had their four-game winning streak snapped as starter Joe Saunders was wild throughout with six walks and a throwing error that led to an unearned run.

Despite the defeat, the Angels maintained their two-game lead over Texas in the AL West. They fell to 12-17 against division opponents and 4-3 against Oakland (38-50).

Weaver (10-3, 3.22 ERA) will try and help them bounce back as he looks to match his win total from last season Saturday. He has 18 strikeouts and three walks in his last two starts, winning last Saturday by allowing four runs over six innings of a 14-8 victory over the New York Yankees.

The right-hander went 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA in his last four starts.

Weaver is 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA in seven starts versus the Athletics, with the Angels losing all three outings in which he didn't get a decision. He is 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four day starts this year.

Oakland won for the third time in four games Friday as Bobby Crosby, playing first base in place of a slumping Jason Giambi, hit a three-run homer and Orlando Cabrera added three hits and two RBIs.

The A's, ranked near or at the bottom of numerous AL batting categories, are hitting .304 with 40 runs in their last nine games. They also had a season-high four steals Saturday.

"That's one of the things I'm trying to encourage these guys to do," Cabrera said of stealing bases.

Los Angeles first baseman Kendry Morales extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games by going 2 for 3 with his 17th homer. Morales is batting .359 (23 for 64) with five homers and 16 RBIs during his run.

Angels shortstop Erick Aybar departed after the fourth inning because of dizziness, replaced in the lineup by Howie Kendrick. Aybar collided with Cabrera while breaking up a double play in the third.

A's center fielder Scott Hairston was hit in the left wrist by a pitch in the eighth and left the game. The wrist was swollen and he is questionable for Saturday.

Oakland will give the ball to rookie starter Vin Mazzaro (2-5, 3.59), who is set to make his first start against the Angels.

Since winning his first two career outings, the right-hander is 0-5 with a 5.03 ERA in six games. He lost his fourth straight start July 10, giving up three runs over five innings of a 6-0 defeat at Tampa.