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Angels-Cubs Preview

Jun 19, 2010 - 11:18 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Los Angeles (38-32) at Chicago (30-37), 2:20 p.m. EDT

This weekend marked the first time the Los Angeles Angels visited Wrigley Field. Based on the early results, they may want to play there more often.

Coming off their most lopsided victory of the season, the surging Angels can finish a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs and extend their road winning streak to six on Sunday afternoon.

Los Angeles (39-32) was already hot when the team arrived in Chicago, and neither Cubs' pitchers nor the NL's oldest ballpark have done much to slow the Angels down.

After holding on for a 7-6 win in the series opener, the Angels cruised to a 12-0 triumph Saturday as both Howie Kendrick and Torii Hunter homered for the second straight day.

Bobby Abreu may be giving them some tips. He went 4 for 5 on Saturday, improving his career average at Wrigley Field to .368. He has 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 31 games there, mostly from 1998-2005.

"We have a much deeper look now that some guys are swinging the bat," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Our lineup is getting deeper, which means that we're going to pressure teams more consistently. That's going to be important to us moving forward."

The offensive outburst has helped the Angels improve to 16-5 in their last 21 games and continue to pressure Texas for the AL West lead. They've also won five in a row and 12 of 14 on the road, although they'll begin a 12-game homestand Tuesday.

Joe Saunders (5-7, 4.70 ERA) takes the Wrigley mound for the first time after going 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his last three road starts. In his career on the road, Saunders has gone 29-11 - the best winning percentage among active pitchers.

The left-hander is 5-2 with a 3.36 ERA in nine career interleague outings, but the worst was Monday against Milwaukee. He gave up six runs - including two homers - in 5 2-3 innings of a 12-2 loss.

His counterpart Sunday will be Carlos Zambrano, who continues to have problems after a month-long stint in the bullpen earlier this season.

Zambrano (2-5, 5.66) has walked 11 in 15 1-3 innings over three outings since his return to the rotation. He wasn't helped by his defense Tuesday against Oakland, and three of the five runs he gave up in six innings were unearned during a 9-5 loss to Oakland.

"It already happened," Zambrano told the Cubs' official website. "You have to come tomorrow and play tomorrow and have a better game tomorrow - game by game."

The results haven't been getting any better for the Cubs, who are in danger of being swept at home for the first time since Philadelphia won three straight at Wrigley from Aug. 11-13. No AL team has earned a sweep there since Detroit from June 16-18, 2006.

Chicago (30-38) had more errors (three) than hits (two) on Saturday, giving the club 12 errors in their last five games. The Cubs have dropped 12 of 18 overall.

"What am I supposed to do? Yell and scream? That doesn't work. Criticize people? That doesn't do any good," manager Lou Piniella said. "You have to go out and play on the field. That's all you can do. Play on the field. If not then you're going to get embarrassed like we did (Saturday)."