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Angels-Tigers Preview

Aug 8, 2010 - 3:56 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (55-56) at Detroit (53-56), 1:05 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers were mired in slumps heading into their series at Comerica Park.

Entering Sunday afternoon's finale, it's the Angels who have broken out of their funk.

Los Angeles will try to keep that momentum going by completing its first three-game road sweep of the Tigers in 12 years.

The Angels (56-56) had dropped 12 of 16 before heading into Detroit but have outscored the Tigers 14-3 with most of those runs coming during a 10-1 rout Saturday night.

Despite the absence of Torii Hunter, Los Angeles produced 13 hits. Hunter, who leads the Angels with a .294 average, began a four-game suspension for throwing a bag of balls on the field after being ejected in Friday night's 4-2 victory.

Angels infielder Alberto Callaspo went 3 for 4 in his best game since coming over in a trade with Kansas City on July 22, Mike Napoli - hitting .346 with seven RBIs in his last seven games - had two hits and three RBIs, and Juan Rivera had two hits and drove in two runs to give him seven RBIs in his last five contests.

"Obviously, we had a pretty good offensive night," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We had a lot of guys helping us score runs tonight."

Trevor Bell (1-2, 5.90 ERA) hopes to get similar support as he tries to earn his first win as a starter this season and lead Los Angeles to three straight wins for the first time since July 15-17. The right-hander, who has never faced the Tigers, is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in two starts.

Bell, 1-2 with a 9.13 ERA over six career starts, gave up four runs over 3 1-3 innings during a 6-4 loss at Texas on July 25 but put together a solid effort in Baltimore on Tuesday. He didn't receive a decision after allowing two runs and four hits over 5 1-3 innings in a 6-3 defeat.

"I thought Trevor was outstanding," Scioscia told the Angels' official website. "It's not easy sometimes when you've been in the 'pen for a while, and you're trying to get stretched out again."

Bell will face a Detroit team that's attempting to avoid its 21st loss in 26 games and first three-game sweep at home to the Angels since Aug. 10-12, 1998.

"It is tough what we are going through right now, but that is part of the game," manager Jim Leyland said.

Detroit is also hoping Rick Porcello (4-10, 5.91) can end his recent woes. The right-hander is 0-6 with a 6.26 ERA in his last eight starts, going 0-3 with a 5.26 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo on July 17.

He was tagged for seven runs and eight hits over 4 1-3 innings of a 12-2 home loss to the White Sox on Tuesday.

Porcello is 1-1 with a 10.24 ERA in two starts this season against the Angels.