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Angels try to get Santana going in meeting with Mariners

Jul 8, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - Angels aces Jered Weaver and Dan Haren are two of the top pitchers in the American League. Rotation mate Ervin Santana used to be in that category, but this season has been a struggle for the right-hander.

Santana draws the assignment tonight in the second portion of a four-game series versus the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium and was able to end a lengthy winless drought his previous time out. In Sunday's 3-1 win versus the local Los Angeles Dodgers, Santana held them to a run and six hits in 7 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. He has allowed only one walk in each of his last three starts and improved to 4-8 in 18 starts this season.

The right-hander, who has won 16 or more games three times in his career, is only 3-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 10 starts at the Big A this season. Santana has tossed six or more innings in 15 of his 18 starts this season and looks to gain a measure of revenge against a Mariners team that beat him on June 15 at Safeco Field. Santana tossed 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball in the 3-1 loss and is 9-5 with a 3.83 ERA in 21 career starts in this series.

Weaver was able to take care of the Mariners last night with another complete- game performance, as he allowed just one run on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts for his 11th win of the season (11-4).

"It's a good way to finish the first half," said Weaver. "The guys played great defensively behind me. I had to work my way out of a couple of jams and keep runs off the board."

Peter Bourjos had three hits and an RBI before leaving the game with a strained right hamstring, while Torii Hunter and Erick Aybar both had two hits for the Angels, who are one game behind Texas for the AL West lead and have won 11 of their last 14 games. All-Star Howie Kendrick is riding a 16-game hitting streak, finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI last night.

The Angels are now 16-5 in the past 21 matchups with the Mariners.

Anaheim is also 8-2 on a season-long 13-game homestand and has won seven straight series. It will get a glimpse of the future tonight, as the club called up highly-touted prospect Mike Trout from Double-A Arkansas. The New Jersey native will be the youngest player in the Major Leagues at 19 and has been rated as the top prospect in all of baseball. Tout, an outfielder, batted .330 with nine home runs, 11 triples, 27 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 74 games for Arkansas this season. The Angels are expected to make another move, possibly placing Bourjos on the disabled list, to make room for Trout.

Seattle has lost two in a row since a three-game winning streak and fell to 2-2 on a seven-game road trip with Thursday's loss. Mariners starter Doug Fister pitched well in defeat and permitted three runs and seven hits over six innings to take the loss.

"Doug pitched a good game and Weaver was good again," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge. "We had our opportunities. We had a chance early. We have to take advantage of those opportunities."

Brendan Ryan had two hits, including an RBI double, for the Mariners, who have lost six of their last 10 games and are 4 1/2 games off the pace in the AL West. Franklin Gutierrez ended 2-for-3 with a run scored in defeat.

Taking the mound tonight for the Mariners will be Blake Beavan. Beavan is taking the place of injured left-hander Erik Bedard and was acquired last year by Seattle in the Cliff Lee deal with Texas. Beavan won his major league debut at Safeco Field in Sunday's 3-1 win over San Diego and limited the Padres to a run and three hits through seven innings. He could experience some trouble now that opposing teams have been able to study the right-hander.

"Obviously there'll be a little more information on him now," Wedge said. "But what he needs to do is go out and pitch his game and let them work off of him. He doesn't need to do anything, just go pitch his ballgame and let them react and go from there."

This could be Beavan's last appearance for Seattle with Bedard scheduled to come off of the disabled list after the All-Star break.