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Weaver takes aim at 16th win as Angels battle Red Sox

Aug 22, 2012 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - Jered Weaver goes after his 16th win of the season when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continue a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

After winning nine straight starts Weaver has lost his last two and was roughed up badly by the Tampa Bay Rays his last time out. Weaver lasted only three innings in that one and surrendered a career-high nine runs and eight hits to fall to 15-3 on the year, while raising his ERA to 2.74.

"Jered's a guy who's been pitching really well, and sometimes you have games like this. But that's baseball," Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick said. "I'm pretty sure he'll bounce back his next start and keep moving forward."

Weaver has struggled against the Red Sox in his career, posting a 2-5 ledger to go along with a 4.41 ERA. He's also just 1-3 in six Fenway starts with a 7.16 ERA.

Boston, meanwhile, will counter with righty Clay Buchholz, who has won his last three decisions and is unbeaten in his last six starts. Buchholz beat the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, holding them to three runs and eight hits in eight innings. He also struck out seven and improved to 11-3 and lowered his ERA to 4.19.

Buchholz has faced the Angels seven times and is 5-2 with a 3.95 ERA.

The Angels won for the fifth straight time with Ervin Santana on the mound in Tuesday's opener and defeated the Red Sox, 5-3.

Santana (7-10), who is 3-0 with a 3.52 earned run average over his last five outings, gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings en route to the win.

"We got early runs, which helped (Santana)," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Then our bullpen came in and did the job that we needed and we expect."

Mark Trumbo crushed a decisive two-run home run as the Angels snapped a four- game losing streak.

Los Angeles roughed up Aaron Cook (3-7) for five runs -- four earned -- and 11 hits in five innings. Cook struck out a season-high four, but lost for the sixth time in his last seven decisions. The right-hander has a 6.25 ERA over his last six starts.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered in a losing effort, as the Red Sox fell for the ninth time in their last 13 games.

Boston took six of eight meetings with the Angels last season.