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Angels-Cubs Preview

Jun 18, 2010 - 11:54 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (37-32) at Chicago (30-36), 1:05 p.m. EDT

Los Angeles Angels starter Jered Weaver has benefited from strong run support this season. The Chicago Cubs' Ted Lilly hasn't been so fortunate.

The pitchers will have something in common Saturday.

Weaver and Lilly will each attempt to win consecutive starts for the first time since September as their respective teams continue a three-game interleague series at Wrigley Field.

Weaver (6-3, 3.29 ERA) has received 5.65 runs of support this season from the Angels, while the Cubs have given Lilly (2-5, 2.90) just 2.11 runs per nine innings - fewest among qualifying major league starters.

Weaver used his customary support to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday and bounce back from one of his worst performances of the season. The right-hander gave up three runs and five hits over six innings of a 6-5 win after getting tagged for six runs and 12 hits in a 10-1 loss in Oakland on June 8.

"He made pitches when he needed to," Dodgers manager Joe Torre told the Angels' official website. "He did enough to beat us."

That evening, Lilly took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox but exited with just a 1-0 lead. Despite walking two batters and committing a balk, Cubs closer Carlos Marmol finished the job to secure the left-hander's first win since his season debut April 24 in Milwaukee.

"No question there's a little bit of a letdown. You kind of get over that and realize we're in a 1-0 game and we've got to somehow find a way to win this game," said Lilly, whose team is 10-16 in one-run games.

Lilly hasn't won back-to-back outings since a three-game run Sept. 2-13, while Weaver last won consecutive starts Sept. 4-9. Given their respective teams' recent fortunes, the advantage would appear to go to the Los Angeles right-hander, who is facing the Cubs for the first time.

The Angels (38-32) improved to an AL-best 17-6 since May 24 and earned their 11th win in 13 road games when they took Friday's series opener 7-6 - their first-ever victory at Wrigley.

Los Angeles held on after surviving Chicago's four-run ninth inning. Tyler Colvin's three-run homer and Derrek Lee's second home run of the game made things interesting, but the Angels built enough cushion thanks in part to three earlier Cubs errors.

"When the door opened a crack, we took advantage," manager Mike Scioscia said,

Lilly, 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 10 career starts against the Angels, will try to help Chicago (30-37) avoid its 12th loss in 18 games. He is 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA in six interleague home starts since joining the Cubs in 2007, while Weaver is 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA in eight career road outings against NL teams.

Weaver will try to help the Angels clinch their first series win over the Cubs, who took two of three in Anaheim during the only previous matchup June 11-13, 2004.