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Angels-Tigers Preview

May 2, 2010 - 7:24 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (12-13) at Detroit (15-10), 1:05 p.m. EDT

Johnny Damon has finally hit his first home run for the Detroit Tigers. He was hardly struggling at the plate overall, however, especially in games that Justin Verlander has started.

Coming off his second consecutive outstanding performance, Damon looks to give the struggling ace some support Sunday as the Tigers try for their first sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in nearly 14 years.

A 3-2 win over Los Angeles (12-13) on Saturday put Detroit (15-10) in position to sweep a series with the Angels for the first time since a three-game set at home from July 30-Aug. 1, 1996. Damon's late-game heroics gave the Tigers that opportunity.

Damon's first home run in a Detroit uniform came in the ninth inning. The veteran left fielder tied a career high with 24 home runs last season with the Yankees.

"Definitely would have wanted to get an extra base hit," said Damon, who insisted he wasn't trying to hit one out. "Try to get in scoring position."

Damon is 6 for 9 with two doubles, three RBIs and four runs over his last two games and is batting .344 this season. He is 8 for 14 with four RBIs and four runs in the five games Verlander (1-2, 5.53 ERA) has started, but Detroit has still had a tough time giving the right-hander support.

Verlander has gotten two runs or fewer to work with in four of his five starts. He suffered a loss despite posting his best start of the season Tuesday night, allowing an unearned run and striking out seven in 5 2-3 innings of a 2-0 loss to Minnesota.

The one game in which Detroit did produce at the plate for Verlander was a 5-4 win over Los Angeles on April 22. Verlander earned a win despite surrendering four runs and walking four in five innings.

He is 2-2 with a 5.10 ERA in seven starts versus the Angels.

Los Angeles will counter with Jered Weaver (3-0, 2.53), who appears on his way to having another strong season with 34 strikeouts in 32 innings. This is the first time Weaver has won his first three decisions since 2006, when he joined Livan Hernandez and Hall of Famer Whitey Ford as the only pitchers to go 9-0 in their first 12 major league starts.

The right-hander earned a win in his last outing, allowing one run and striking out seven in six innings as Los Angeles beat Cleveland 5-2 on Monday night.

He faced the Tigers in his previous start, yielding two runs in seven innings of a 4-3 loss April 21. Weaver went 2-2 with a 7.36 ERA in his five prior starts against Detroit.

Weaver is trying to help the Angels avoid being swept for the first time this season.

Center fielder Torii Hunter will likely be back to help Los Angeles' cause after getting a day off. Hunter is 8 for 16 with two homers, three doubles and six RBIs over his last four games.