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Angels send Weaver to hill in Baltimore on short rest

Sep 18, 2011 - 3:03 PM (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles try to play spoiler once again this afternoon when they go for a sweep in the finale of their three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

It won't be easy, though, as the Angels will send ace Jered Weaver to the hill on short rest in an effort to stop the bleeding. Weaver beat the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, holding them to a run and six hits in seven innings to improve to 17-7 on the year to go along with a 2.40 ERA.

Weaver is 1-1 with a 6.39 ERA in two games this season when going on less than normal rest.

"It's a calculated risk with anything that you do," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of starting Weaver on three days rest. "This is gonna be one day short, and more importantly, Weav doesn't see it as any issue nor [pitching coach Mike Butcher]. So that [gives] me the confidence to know he's not gonna be at any risk."

Weaver has faced the Orioles five times and is just 2-3 against them with a 3.62 ERA. He's also lost three straight to them.

The Angels are going to need a big start from their right-hander if they want to avoid falling further back in the American League West standings. The Halos fell for the fourth time in six tries on Saturday and dropped 4 1/2 games behind the Texas Rangers in the division, as Mark Reynolds hit a three-run home run in a five-run first inning in Baltimore's 6-2 win.

J.J. Hardy hit a two-run home run while Matt Wieters scored twice for the Orioles, who have won four in a row. Zach Britton (10-10) got the win as he gave up just one run on three hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings.

"We know they're playing hard and trying to win," said Britton. "So whenever you play hard and put together a good win against a team fighting for a playoff spot it feels good."

Vernon Wells and Bobby Wilson each drove in a run for the Angels, while Ervin Santana (11-12) dropped his third straight start as he was tagged for five runs on five hits with three walks over seven innings.

"This is a team and we have to play as a team," said Santana. "We have to step it up if we want to be playing in October."

The Angels are a miserable 4-for-39 (.103) with runners in scoring position over the last six games

Baltimore will rely on righty Alfredo Simon, who is 4-8 with a 4.67 ERA. Simon is winless in his last four starts (0-2), but pitched well in a no-decision on Tuesday against Tampa, as he surrendered two runs and six hits in seven innings of the O's 4-2 win.

"His stuff speaks for itself," Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said of Simon, who retired 12 straight at one point. "And once he can establish strikes early in the game, he can get them to chase some pitches that might be out of the zone. Strike one's big for any pitcher, but it's especially big for him."

The Angels have won five of their eight matchups with the O's this season.