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Rangers-Angels Preview

Jun 28, 2010 - 10:36 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Texas (46-29) at Los Angeles (43-35), 10:05 p.m. EDT

During his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Vladimir Guerrero was a part of five AL West title-winning teams.

When he returns to Anaheim on Tuesday night, the revived slugger will look to boost the Texas Rangers' chances of winning the 2010 crown with a franchise record-tying ninth straight road win.

In his final season with the Angels, Guerrero hit .295 with 15 homers and 50 RBIs, but a torn chest muscle and an ailing knee limited him to 100 games. Those injuries and his diminished role in the outfield were among the reasons Los Angeles passed on bringing the 2004 AL MVP back to the team.

Instead, the Angels added Hideki Matsui to be their designated hitter, and the Rangers ended up with a bargain as they signed Guerrero to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.

The move has paid off as the 35-year-old is batting .327. He has already matched his home run total from 2009, and he's driven in 60 runs through 71 games. He went 4 for 8 and homered during Texas' two home wins over the Angels from May 17-18.

"I feel good," Guerrero told the Rangers' official website. "I just have to keep working and stay healthy. That's my main focus."

He's helped the Rangers (46-29) hit .312 this month while winning 20 of 25 and pushing their lead over the Angels (43-35) to 4 1/2 games. Texas has also matched a team record in winning eight straight series and produced eight consecutive victories away from home, one shy of its franchise mark set July 22-Aug. 3, 1977.

"We wouldn't be where we are right now if it wasn't for Vlad," relief pitcher Darren Oliver said. "I'm glad he's on my team."

Josh Hamilton's career-best 21-game hitting streak has also contributed to the team's recent success. The outfielder is making a strong case to return to Anaheim for this year's All-Star Game with a .346 average, 18 homers and 57 RBIs this season.

Hamilton is hitting .477 (41 of 86) during his streak, and he matched a team record with 47 hits in June with a 468-foot homer in Sunday's 10-1 win over Houston.

Scott Feldman (5-6, 5.32 ERA) has benefited from his team's offensive prowess with consecutive wins. The right-hander was bailed out in Thursday's 6-5 comeback victory over Pittsburgh after allowing five runs and 12 hits over six innings.

Feldman has experienced better luck in facing the Angels, going 4-1 with a 3.67 ERA in his last six matchups, but he's 1-4 with a 7.18 ERA on the road against AL opponents this season.

He'll be opposed by Joel Pineiro (7-6, 4.21), who has won four straight starts, allowing one run in each of the last three.

The right-hander, 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA over his last five home games, will make his first start against the Rangers since Aug. 10, 2006. Pineiro is 5-5 with a 5.46 ERA in 14 career starts against Texas, none since 2006.

The Angels recorded their seventh home series win in nine tries with Sunday's 10-3 rout of Colorado and took three of four over the Rangers in Anaheim in last season's final matchup. However, they are 11-13 at home against their AL West rivals since July 14, 2007.