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Angels' Weaver takes ball in finale with Rays

Jun 8, 2011 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - Jered Weaver hopes to string back-to-back wins together for the first time since late April this evening when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium.

Weaver, who opened the year with six straight wins, won for the first time in seven starts on Friday against the New York Yankees, as he allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. He also struck out eight and improved to 7-4 to go along with a 2.14 ERA.

"I'm glad May is over and it's now June," Weaver said. "My fastball wasn't very strong early. I battled and got out of a couple of situations. I was hoping to get through five innings, then I found my fastball command in the sixth and seventh."

Weaver beat the Rays earlier in the year and is 4-1 lifetime against them with a 2.27 ERA in six starts.

The Angels lost for the fourth straight time on Tuesday, as Johnny Damon had three hits, an RBI and a run scored to lift the Rays to a 4-1 win.

Alex Cobb (1-0) earned his first career win after failing to register a decision in either of his first two outings. Cobb went 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out three.

"I had good command of my fastball tonight and I felt comfortable. It's surreal. It hasn't really sunk in yet. It's awesome to think it's going to bring joy to my family," Cobb said about his first win.

Kyle Farnsworth earned his 12th save as Tampa won for the third time in four tries.

Dan Haren (5-4) allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk in seven innings. He also struck out six in the Angels' sixth defeat in seven games.

Haren was scheduled to start on Saturday, but was pushed back to Tuesday's contest after tweaking a back muscle during a side session earlier in the week.

"As the game went on, Dan's velocity went up. He gave us a chance to win but we're not scoring runs," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

Tonight Tampa will rely on right-hander James Shields, who was awful his last time out. Shields lost for the third time in four starts on Thursday in Seattle, as the Mariners pounded him for eight runs (seven earned) and seven hits in four innings, dropping him to 5-4, while raising his ERA to 2.77.

"I definitely want to get back out there, for sure," Shields said. "Any time you have a rough outing, you have five days to think about it. I'm one of those guys who will move on and try to have a quality start."

Shields has faced the Angels 10 times and is 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA.

The Angels have won four of seven from the Rays this season and have taken seven of the last 11 matchups in the series.