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Angels-Rangers Preview

May 17, 2010 - 3:56 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (17-21) at Texas (20-17), 8:05 p.m. EDT

To have a chance to climb back on top of the AL West, the Los Angeles Angels will likely need better results away from home in the coming weeks.

They have a prime opportunity to work on both the division race and those road woes in their next series.

Beginning a seven-game trip, Los Angeles will take on the first-place Texas Rangers for the first time this season Monday night.

The Angels (18-21), winners of three consecutive AL West titles, trail the Rangers by 2 1/2 games heading into the opener of this two-game series. That deficit will grow if Los Angeles - which plays 21 of its next 27 away from home - plays like it did on its last road trip. The Angels dropped seven in a row to open a 10-game trek earlier this month before winning two of three in Seattle.

At home last week, Los Angeles lost two of three to Tampa Bay before bouncing back to sweep Oakland over the weekend.

The Angels got a big boost from their starting pitchers with two shutouts against the Athletics, including Joel Pineiro's 4-0 victory Sunday.

"We're only going to go as far as our starters are going to perform," manager Mike Scioscia said. "If this weekend is any indication, hopefully we're starting to make some strides forward."

Scott Kazmir (2-3, 6.82 ERA) will try to continue that momentum, but will need to improve his control. The left-hander has walked 16 batters over his last four starts, and has compiled a 9.64 ERA while losing his last two.

Kazmir has produced much better results against the Rangers, going 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 10 career starts. The Houston native is 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA all-time at Arlington, where he threw six innings in a 2-0 victory Sept. 18.

While the Angels will aim for better results on the road, the Rangers will look to benefit from a return home.

After a 6-1 homestand, Texas (20-18) got swept in three weekend games at Toronto, culminating in a 5-2 defeat on Sunday. The Rangers allowed 27 runs over the weekend, increasing the staff ERA from 3.57 to 4.03.

Derek Holland (1-0, 0.00) will try to send that ERA back in the other direction and aim for an encore of his season debut - six scoreless innings in a 10-1 victory over Oakland on Wednesday.

The left-hander, who struggled at the end of his 8-13 rookie campaign, opened the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City after suffering a mild knee sprain in spring training. He responded by going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA in six starts and earning a call-up.

Holland said improved command keyed his strong performances in the minors. He displayed that command Wednesday, striking out seven and walking one.

"It keeps my confidence going. It shows I can pitch as well here as I did (in Oklahoma City)," Holland said.

Holland's only career shutout was a three-hitter against the Angels in Los Angeles on Aug. 9, but he was a mediocre 2-2 with a 5.26 ERA in five appearances - three starts - versus them in 2009.

Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who went 2 for 4 with a double Sunday, is 2 for 22 against Kazmir.

Texas took six of nine meetings with the Angels in Arlington last season.