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Angels look to avoid series sweep

Jul 22, 2007 - 1:15 PM LA Angels (56-40) at Minnesota (51-46) 2:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Hoping to end an uncharacteristic losing stretch, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim look to salvage a win in their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Since defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 24 to go a season-best 22 games over .500 (49-27), the Angels have lost 13 of their last 20 games. They have lost seven games off an eight-game lead they owned over Seattle in the American League West Division.

The Angels are in danger of being swept in Minnesota for the first time since June 3-5, 1996.

To halt the slide, the Angels will recall Joe Saunders (3-0, 2.97 ERA) from the minors in time to start in place of Ervin Santana, who was sent down to the minors on Wednesday. He has made five starts this season with Anaheim, winning the last four.

The lefthander last started June 22, when he permitted four runs over six innings but did not receive a decision against Pittsburgh.

Saunders never has faced Minnesota.

Minnesota will go for the series sweep with Matt Garza (1-1, 0.00), who is coming off the most impressive start of the season, yielding one unearned run over seven innings to the major's highest-scoring offense - the Detroit Tigers - but did not get any run support from his offense in a 1-0 loss.

The 23-year-old righthander never has faced the Angels.