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Braves send Hanson to the hill against Angels

May 21, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - Interleague play will continue this evening when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Atlanta Braves in the second contest of a three-game set.

One of the best pitchers in the month of May has been Tommy Hanson, and he will look to continue his success this evening against Anaheim. The young right-hander started the year with three losses in four starts, but since then the future ace of Atlanta's staff has claimed a win in four of his last five outings.

Over his last five games the young hurler has surrendered just six runs, while striking out 30 batters. Ten of those strikeouts came in Hanson's recent win over Houston, as the right-hander held the Astros to just two runs -- one earned -- in seven innings.

The 24-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.35 on the season and moved his home mark to 3-1. However, this evening Hanson will be on the road where he is just 2-2 in four starts. This will be the first-ever start for Hanson against the Angels, but the right-hander has enjoyed plenty of success on the west coast this year, shutting down the Padres and Giants in their respective stadiums.

Joel Pineiro started the year on the disabled list for Anaheim, but the veteran right-hander has given the Angels a boost since returning to the rotation in late April.

The 32-year-old has not allowed more than three runs in any of his four starts and comes into this matchup with a crisp 1.98 earned run average. The last time Pineiro was on the bump he limited the Athletics to just three runs in seven innings, and although he did not factor in the decision, the Angels were victorious by a 5-4 margin.

Pineiro has a history against the Braves, but it is not a successful one. The right-hander has made seven appearances against Atlanta -- four starts -- and is just 1-2 with a 5.46 earned run average.

On Friday, Ervin Santana tossed a four-hit shutout and the Angels crushed Atlanta's Tim Hudson to open a three-game interleague series with a 9-0 rout.

Santana (2-4) needed 103 pitches to complete his sixth career shutout, as he struck out seven and did not walk a batter to help the Angels snap a five-game losing streak.

Mark Trumbo went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer while Alberto Callaspo had two hits and three RBI in the lopsided decision.

In one of the worst starts of his career, Hudson surrendered eight runs on seven hits and three walks in just 3 2/3 innings for the Braves, losers of three straight following a 5-1 stretch.

The Halos took two of three at Turner Field during the 2005 campaign, but Atlanta responded by winning two of three in Anaheim back in 2008. The Angels and are 139-109 against the National League, while Atlanta is 119-108 against the American League.