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Tigers-Angels Preview

Apr 19, 2010 - 1:50 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (6-5) at Los Angeles (5-7), 10:05 p.m. EDT

After getting knocked around through the first week and a half of the season, the Los Angeles Angels are finally receiving some solid starting pitching.

Joel Pineiro looks to build on a stellar performance and help the Angels win a fourth in a row Monday night when they open a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers.

Possibly still reeling from the offseason departure of staff ace John Lackey, Los Angles (6-7) was last in the AL in team ERA at 5.63 on April 15. The three-time defending AL West champions had yielded six runs or more five times through the first 10 games and went into a weekend series in Toronto with three wins.

The Angels had little trouble shutting down the Blue Jays, though, limiting them to nine total runs in sweeping the three-game series. In Sunday's finale, starter Ervin Santana put together a brilliant performance, throwing a four-hitter with no walks in a 3-1 victory.

"We've got to keep passing that baton and keep going," Santana said.

Pineiro (1-1, 2.77 ERA) looks to keep it going as he takes the ball for Los Angeles.

After signing a $16 million, two-year contract with the Angels in February, Pineiro made his Los Angeles debut against Minnesota on April 8, giving up three runs and five hits in six innings of a 10-1 loss. His second outing was considerably better, as the right-hander allowed one run and five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a 5-3 win over New York on Wednesday.

"He pounded the zone in good spots. He moved the ball around and expanded when he had to," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "Great effort from a guy that we have very high hopes for, so that's going to be important to us moving forward."

Scioscia also hopes Pineiro can end his recent struggles against the Tigers (7-5).

In an interleague game against Detroit on June 18, Pineiro gave up four runs - one earned - and five hits in seven innings of a 6-3 loss for St. Louis. He is 0-2 with a 4.95 ERA in his last three starts against the Tigers after going 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA in his first six starts against them.

While Pineiro hasn't been at his best lately against Detroit, Torii Hunter feasted on Tigers pitching last season, batting .516 (16 for 31) with three homers, three doubles and six RBIs in eight games.

Despite Hunter's gaudy numbers, Los Angeles lost five of nine against the Tigers in 2009 and split the six meetings in Angel Stadium.

The Tigers arrive in Southern California after defeating Seattle 4-2 on Sunday, snapping a three-game losing streak. Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run homer against the Mariners, and is batting .423 (11 for 26) with three home runs and 12 RBIs in six road games this season.

Cabrera's former Florida teammate Dontrelle Willis (0-0, 4.91) takes the ball in the opener, set to make his third start of the season - and first not against Kansas City.

After allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings of Detroit's 7-3 win at Kauffman Stadium on April 8, Willis gave up four runs and nine hits in five innings of a 6-5 home win five days later. The left-hander, who has just one victory in 17 games since being acquired by Detroit prior to the 2008 season, didn't receive a decision in either start.

Willis' only career appearance against the Angles came in 2005 - a season he won a career-best 22 games for the Marlins. In that lone start against Los Angeles, Willis yielded 10 hits in seven shutout innings in a 2-1, 10-inning loss.