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Angels-Indians Preview

Aug 18, 2009 - 3:49 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (70-45) at Cleveland (51-66), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels thrived without their two biggest hitters in the lineup for more than a month. Now, if possible, they're about to become an even bigger threat in the AL.

For the first time since early July, Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero are both expected to start as the West-leading Angels visit the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

Hunter and Guerrero haven't shared the field together since July 7. Hunter (groin) came off the disabled list Sunday and played all 13 innings of a 17-8 victory over Baltimore, but Guerrero, who missed most of July with a strained left knee, sat out after being hit by a pitch Saturday.

Hunter was given Monday off while Guerrero was back in the lineup, homering twice and driving in five runs in an 8-5 victory over the Orioles. The win was Los Angeles' third straight and the team improved to 25-8 since July 10.

Kendry Morales and Maicer Izturis also homered Monday. After losing the opener of the series 16-6 on Friday, Los Angeles (71-45) outscored the Orioles 30-14 in the final three games. The Angels have scored 60 runs in their last seven games with Morales hitting .462 with six RBIs over that stretch.

"We've been swinging the bats well, and today we combined good starting pitching with driving the ball and we held on," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Great to see Vlad get a hold of a couple, and Izzy. We're at a point right now of trying to settle our pitching, and as we keep moving forward it's important for the offense to keep rolling. That's what happened tonight."

The Angels won two of three against the Indians (51-66) in July when Hunter and Guerrero were out.

They'll face Fausto Carmona (2-7, 6.37 ERA), who has lost his last three decisions and is looking for his first victory since May 14.

Carmona is 0-1 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts since being recalled from the minors July 31. He pitched six innings against Texas on Wednesday, allowing two runs in a 5-0 loss.

"I'm not feeling any frustration," Carmona said. "I want to win, but I'm happy with the way I'm pitching. I'm keeping my team in the game. I'm giving us a chance to win."

The right-hander will open this six-game homestand for the Indians, who won two of three over Minnesota last weekend, including 7-4 on Sunday.

Cleveland scored six runs in the third inning with Kelly Shoppach and Luis Valbuena hitting back-to-back home runs. Grady Sizemore added a two-run homer in the inning for the Indians, 15-9 since July 21.

"Guys are playing loose and having fun," said Sizemore, hitting .348 with six RBIs in his last 11 games. "We had kind of fallen back and now we've got nothing to lose. So now we can go out there and just relax and play, and sometimes you get your best baseball when you're playing that way."

Sizemore and the Indians will face Trevor Bell (0-0, 6.75), who will be making his second major league start.

The 22-year-old rookie right-hander, starting in place of Joe Saunders (shoulder), gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 10-5 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He allowed two home runs and struck out four.