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Willits aims to continue sizzling start

May 19, 2007 - 3:18 PM LA Dodgers (25-17) at LA Angels (25-18) 9:05 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Losing Garret Anderson was supposed to hinder the offense of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Instead, it allowed a rookie, Reggie Willits, a chance to flourish.

Willits and the Angels continue their interleague rivalry against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday in the second game of the "Freeway Series".

With Anderson out with a right hip flexor injury, Willits has taken over in left field and has batted .382 (26-for-68) with 16 runs scored since the beginning of May. He leads all rookies with a .371 batting average, has a team-high nine steals and is tied for second on the Angels with 15 walks.

In the Angels' series-opening 9-1 victory on Friday, Willits reached base in his first three plate appearances with a walk and two singles, posting his third straight multiple-hit effort and marking the fifth time in eight games he scored at least twice.

The Angels won for the eighth time in 10 games and improved the home record to 15-6, the second-best mark in the American League.

This is the first time the clubs have met with both teams in first place, but the Dodgers fell for just the second time in seven games. They have also lost 12 of their last 15 games in Anaheim.

Jered Weaver (2-3, 3.62 ERA) will make his first career interleague start for the Angels. Since allowing eight earned runs in his first two outings, Weaver has been outstanding, going 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his last four starts.

The righthander took advantage of some early run support to last a season-high seven innings Monday, when he allowed one run and six hits in a 7-2 victory at Texas. No Dodger hitter has ever faced Weaver.

Mark Hendrickson (2-0, 2.61 ERA), who began the season in the bullpen, will make his sixth start for the Dodgers in place of offseason addition Jason Schmidt. After posting both of his wins and recording a 1.30 ERA through May 2, the lefthander has seen his ERA double after yielding seven earned runs in his last two starts, both no-decisions.

Hendrickson, a former Devil Ray starter, has pitched well against the Angels in his career, going 5-3 with a 3.70 ERA in nine appearances - including eight starts.