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Royals-Angels Preview

Jul 4, 2010 - 6:07 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Kansas City (35-45) at Los Angeles (45-37), 8:15 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels began this weekend ranked among the top scoring teams in the majors, but hits have been at a premium against the Kansas City Royals.

The Angels will try to snap out of their offensive funk and avoid being swept for the first time in two months Sunday night against the Royals.

Kansas City (36-45) entered this series ranked 25th in the majors with a 4.67 ERA, but has been very impressive on the mound in the first two games. Kyle Davies gave up one run in 7 2-3 innings of a 2-1, 10-inning victory Friday. Bruce Chen was even better Saturday, retiring the first 18 batters before giving up a hit to Erick Aybar to lead off the seventh en route to a 4-2 win.

"That's a good-hitting team over there, so to do what (Chen) did is pretty impressive," Royals catcher Jason Kendall said.

Saturday's loss dropped Los Angeles (45-38) 4 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Texas. The Royals' strong pitching has cooled the Angels, who haven't lost three straight since a season-worst seven-game skid April 30-May 6.

Los Angeles has 13 hits in this series and is 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. The Angels have scored nine runs in their last four games with Bobby Abreu going 2 for 17 and Howie Kendrick 2 for 16.

However, Los Angeles, which was last swept by the Royals in June 2007, has to feel good about its chances to bounce back with Joel Pineiro (8-6, 4.23 ERA) on the mound.

Pineiro is looking to match a career high by winning six straight starts for the first time since June 16-July 13, 2003. He gave up three runs in six innings of a 6-5 win over Texas on Tuesday, and has a 1.78 ERA in his last four starts.

Pineiro, though, struggled against the Royals on June 1, giving up six runs and 10 hits in eight innings of a 6-3 loss. He's 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in his last three starts versus Kansas City.

He'll be matched up against a Royals team that clinched its third straight series Saturday. Kansas City's three-game win streak matches its longest of the season and it will try to win four in a row for the first time since a five-game run Sept. 7-11.

The Royals, who have a 2.41 ERA in their last nine games, will hand the ball to Anthony Lerew (1-1, 3.63), who is coming off his first major league win in 17 career starts. He limited the White Sox to one run and three hits over six innings in a 3-1 victory Monday.

"I definitely had that in the back of my mind the whole time, which wasn't a help," Lerew, who had to overcome Tommy John surgery in 2008, said of the elusive win. "I made it a lot more work than it should have been."

The right-hander is making his first appearance against the Angels.

Royals switch-hitting third baseman Alberto Callaspo sat out Saturday's game with a sore left wrist. It's uncertain if he'll be back in the lineup Sunday.