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Weaver draws start for Angels in finale vs. White Sox

Sep 23, 2012 - 1:08 PM (Sports Network) - Jered Weaver can become the first 19-game winner in the American League and keep the LA Angels within striking distance of a playoff spot when he takes the mound today in the finale of a three-game series versus the Chicago White Sox.

Weaver has won two straight and three of his last five starts (3-1), including an 11-3 drubbing of the Texas Rangers on Tuesday in which he yielded three runs in seven innings of work. The win lifted his record to 18-4 in 27 starts with a 2.79 earned run average.

The lanky right-hander, who has never won 19 games in a season and recently had a bout with biceps tendinitis, is 10-2 in 14 starts at home this year and 6-2 with a 1.61 ERA in nine career starts against the White Sox. Weaver has won 18 games in back-to-back campaigns.

Anaheim has won the first two matchups in this series and will go for the sweep this afternoon. Ervin Santana dazzled in Friday's opener of the set, then Dan Haren did his job last night by hurling six innings of two-run ball.

"When we got the lead I was able to be aggressive," Haren said. "I think everything was working tonight. We've lost some tough games, but we're very positive right now."

Ernesto Frieri later came on for his 20th save for the Angels, who are 2 1/2 games off the final wild card berth in the American League. Mark Trumbo drove in two runs, while Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter had an RBI apiece. Mike Trout had a run scored -- his 121st of the season -- and is nearing Vladimir Guerrero's franchise record of 124 runs scored in 2004.

The Angels have won six of nine games and will host Seattle for three games on their current nine-game homestand (3-2).

Chicago's lead atop the AL Central continued to evaporate and the club is only one-half game ahead of Detroit in the division standings.

The White Sox lost their fourth in a row since winning five straight and look to close out a six-game road trip on a high note. Jose Quintana was saddled with the loss last night and gave up four runs -- one earned -- and six hits in five innings.

"Jose had a rough first inning but after that he pitched pretty good," said Chicago manager Robin Ventura, who was ejected in the fourth inning by first base umpire Ed Hickox after a balk call to Quintana. "There was a couple of spots where we had our chances, just couldn't capitalize."

Paul Konerko homered and Alex Rios went 3-for-4 with a run scored for Chicago.

Chicago is scheduled to return to the Windy City for a seven-game homestand versus Cleveland and Tampa Bay.

Gavin Floyd gets the call for the Pale Hose today and is coming off a win at Kansas City in his second outing since a stint on the disabled list. Floyd allowed two runs in seven innings and is 6-3 in his last nine decisions.

The right-hander was able to even his mark at 10-10 in 26 starts with a 4.50 earned run average, and will face the Angels for the 10th time in his career. Floyd is only 2-5 with a 5.20 ERA in the first nine starts in this series with Anaheim, which reached him for five runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 6-5 win back on Aug. 4. Floyd did not factor in the outcome of that one.

Anaheim is 4-3 against the White Sox this season.