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Tigers-Angels Preview

Aug 26, 2009 - 6:52 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Detroit (67-58) at Los Angeles (74-50), 3:35 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers have been struggling to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the AL Central, but a series against the Los Angeles Angels appears to be giving them some confidence.

The Tigers look to complete their first three-game road sweep of the Angels in 16 years when the two clubs meet again Wednesday.

Detroit (67-58) had gone 6-7 from Aug. 10-23, and was trying to hold onto a 2 1/2-game lead in the AL Central when it began what appeared to be a tough set against Los Angeles (74-50). The Angels, who had won the previous eight season series between the clubs, are leading the AL West with the second-best record in baseball. They also had started the week having won 12 of 16 home games.

The Tigers, though, have held on for back-to-back wins at Anaheim. After nearly blowing a 10-run lead in Monday's 10-7 win, Detroit prevailed 5-3 in another nail-biter Tuesday. Miguel Cabrera homered and added an RBI groundout while Fernando Rodney got the save after putting two runners on in the ninth.

"We just made play after play," manager Jim Leyland said. "There's a lot of excitement in the dugout, a lot of tension. It's what you get paid to do. If my heart wasn't racing in the ninth inning tonight, I should go home."

Cabrera had his third straight three-hit game. He's batting .548 in the last 10 games and has homered in the last three, driving in nine runs.

With the win, the Tigers took a 4 1/2-game lead in the division over Chicago and Minnesota, who are tied for second. It's their largest advantage since June 25, when they were five games up.

Detroit is looking to sweep the Angels in California for the first time since Aug. 16-18, 1993.

The Angels, meanwhile, are trying to avoid losing their fourth straight. They had runners on first and third in the ninth Tuesday, but Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera failed to get a hit against Rodney.

Guerrero was 0 for 4 while Bobby Abreu went 0 for 3 and was thrown out at home when attempting to score on a wild pitch in the seventh with the bases loaded.

"I killed the rally. You never know what would have happened after that," he said.

Los Angeles' lead in the AL West is down to four games.

The Angels will hand the ball to Joe Saunders (9-7, 5.33 ERA), who is coming off the disabled list for his first start since Aug. 7.

Saunders, a 17-game winner and All-Star in 2008, was bothered by shoulder stiffness when he last pitched against the Rangers. He allowed five runs in 1 2-3 innings and was put on the DL the next day.

Saunders is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in six starts against the Tigers.

The left-hander has gone 1-3 with a 9.63 ERA in his last eight starts, making it through six innings only twice.

Edwin Jackson (10-5, 2.86) counters for Detroit, looking for his third straight victory.

He gave up two runs in six innings of a 3-2 win at Oakland on Friday, and his 2.80 road ERA is second-lowest in the AL.

The right-hander is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in nine appearances against the Angels. He's split two starts against them this season, throwing a four-hitter in a 2-1 victory June 6 in the most recent outing.