Angels 2 - 3 Blue Jays
Final/10
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Angels aim to get on track versus Blue Jays

Sep 19, 2011 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim didn't help themselves any this past weekend in Baltimore. Tonight, they try to keep themselves in the postseason mix when they open their final road series of the year, playing the first of a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

The Angels dropped the first two of their three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles before exploding in Sunday's finale, as Erick Aybar went 4-for-4 with two home runs, two doubles and four RBI, powering Los Angeles to an 11-2 thumping.

Los Angeles banged out 15 hits and received solid start from Jered Weaver on three days' rest. Weaver (18-7) lasted six innings and gave up two runs on six hits for the Angels, who are 4 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Texas and four games back of the Boston Red Sox in the wild card.

"He's one of the best pitchers in the game right now," Orioles catcher Craig Tatum said of Weaver. "He showed he can come back off three days' rest and still do it."

The Angels will play their final six games of the season at home, including the last three against the Rangers.

Tonight the Angels will rely on resurgent right-hander Jerome Williams, who is 3-0 with a 3.90 ERA. Williams did not get a decision on Tuesday in Oakland, as he allowed three runs and seven hits, but walked five in just 4 1/3 innings.

"Walk guys, you get killed," Williams said afterward. "Fortunately, I got those two double plays. Every time I throw that sinker, I have confidence they'll make the play."

He has never faced the Blue Jays, who will pin their hopes on left-hander Ricky Romero.

Romero won his second straight start and improved to 8-1 over his last nine decisions on Wednesday in Boston, as he held the Red Sox to four runs (three earned) and six hits in eight innings to run his record to 15-10 to go along with a 3.02 ERA.

"I'm never satisfied, no matter what it is," Romero said. "No matter how many wins, how many strikeouts I have -- to me, the individual stats don't mean anything to me. My job is to continue to get better and get this ballclub better."

He is 3-2 in five starts versus the Angels with a 3.24 ERA.

The Blue Jays played the role of spoiler over the weekend, as they took two of three from the AL East-leading New York Yankees. In Sunday's rubber match, Adam Lind homered twice and Brandon Morrow tossed eight shutout innings in Toronto's 3-0 win.

Morrow (10-11) entered the contest 0-4 in his previous five starts, but limited New York to four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts to win for the first time since August 17 at Seattle.

"I spotted my fastball pretty good and I had a good curveball today," Morrow said.

Frank Francisco worked around a one-out double in the ninth to notch his 16th save.

The Blue Jays have split their six matchups with the Angels this season.






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