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Angels-Orioles Preview

Aug 16, 2009 - 4:36 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Los Angeles (68-45) at Baltimore (48-67), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels have been without three-time All-Star and No. 3 hitter Torii Hunter for more than a month. Their offense hasn't performed like its been missing any key pieces.

Hunter is expected back in the lineup Sunday as AL West-leading Los Angeles looks to continue its dominance of the Baltimore Orioles.

When Hunter landed on the disabled list July 10 with a groin injury, the Angels (69-45) figured to experience a dropoff in production without their Gold Glove center fielder, who was batting .305 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in 77 games.

Even with one of their top run producers on the shelf, the Angels didn't miss a beat, winning 23 of 32 after Hunter went on the DL. In those 32 games, they batted .311, averaged 6.8 runs and swatted 46 homers.

For the season, Los Angeles leads the majors in batting average (.290) and ranks second in runs scored (649).

Not much offense was needed Saturday night, as John Lackey helped the Angels bounce back from Friday's 16-6 loss with a 5-1 win over the Orioles.

Lackey allowed one run in seven innings and Chone Figgins had three hits, a walk and a stolen base as the Angels improved to 6-2 against Baltimore this year and 19-8 in the series since the start of 2007.

Saturday's loss dropped the Orioles (48-68) to 8-20 since the All-Star break. They are the only team in the majors yet to win a series in the second half, losing seven and splitting a four-game set with AL-worst Kansas City.

Baltimore's Nick Markakis, who collected his team-best 80th RBI Saturday, has reached base in 35 straight games, the longest current streak in the majors and a personal best.

Sean O'Sullivan (3-1, 5.12 ERA) looks to rebound from his worst start of the season when he faces the Orioles for the second time. The rookie was roughed up for six runs and six hits over 4 2-3 innings but escaped without a decision Monday in the Angels' 8-7 win over Tampa Bay.

O'Sullivan has allowed 10 runs in his last two starts after yielding 12 in his first five major league outings.

The 21-year-old right-hander gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings against visiting Baltimore on July 4, but did not get a decision in Los Angeles' 11-4 victory.

With losses in four straight starts and tied for the AL lead in defeats, Jeremy Guthrie (7-12, 5.43) hopes to reverse his fortunes when he takes the mound for the Orioles. Since pitching eight strong innings in a win over the Chicago White Sox on July 19, the right-hander is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts. He's given up five of his league-worst 27 home runs during that span.

Guthrie struggled again in his most recent outing, allowing five runs and a season-high 11 hits over 4 2-3 innings of a 9-1 loss to Oakland on Monday.

"I didn't start well in the (World Baseball) Classic and I haven't pitched well for more than one or two games at a time," Guthrie told the Orioles' official Web site. "It's not for lack of work. It's not for lack of attempts to do anything I can to switch it."

He is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in four career starts against the Angels, pitching at least seven innings each time.

Bobby Abreu hit a pair of homers off Guthrie in Los Angeles' 5-2 win at Angel Stadium on July 2.