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Weaver hopes for some support as Angels take on Rangers

Jul 15, 2007 - 2:38 PM Texas (38-52) at LA Angels (55-35), 3:35 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- It looks as if the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may have broken out of their slump just as the Texas Rangers are sinking back to the bottom of the American League West.

The Angels send Jered Weaver (6-5, 3.67 ERA) to the mound in search of a sweep on Sunday when they host the Rangers.

Anaheim has now won two in a row, including a 9-5 victory on Saturday night that snapped Texas' string of seven straight series without a loss.

The Angels slumped heading into the All-Star break, losing eight of 12 while averaging less than four runs per contest. Weaver was the victim of the club's offensive struggles twice during that stretch, losing two starts in a row despite allowing just four combined runs.

Anaheim batters managed a total of two runs of support for the 24-year-old righthander in his last two starts. In his final start before the break, Weaver lost to the Rangers, yielding three runs in five innings as Jamey Wright stymied the Angels hitters.

On Sunday, Texas will send Brandon McCarthy (4-6, 5.70) out to the mound. The 24-year-old righthander has also lost his last two starts as he searches for some consistency with his results.

Over his last nine starts, McCarthy has allowed one earned run or less five times, but has has allowed 16 runs total during a combined 14 2/3 innings over his other four outings. Some of his ineffectiveness comes with a note from his doctor, as McCarthy spent nearly a month on the disabled from June 9 to July 2 with blisters on his pitching hand.