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Angels, Red Sox battle for AL supremacy

Aug 18, 2007 - 12:56 PM LA Angels (71-50) at Boston (73-49) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The top two teams in the American League played to a draw on Friday. One team will try to gain the upper hand when the Boston Red Sox host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday.

The Red Sox took the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Friday, pounding All-Star John Lackey for seven runs en route to an 8-4 victory. The Angels got their revenge in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the ninth off the struggling Eric Gagne to clinch a split of the twinbill, 7-5.

Gagne, who was acquired by Boston at the trading deadline to shore up the late innings in front of closer Jonathan Papelbon, has an ERA of 15.00 in seven appearances since switching teams.

Curt Schilling (6-5, 4.06 ERA) gets the start for the Red Sox on Saturday. The veteran righthander has been solid since coming off the disabled list on August 6, allowing four earned runs in 12 total innings over two starts. However, he has not earned a win since June 7 when he came within one out of a no-hitter at the Oakland Athletics.

Schilling took a loss against Anaheim in his first start off the DL on August 6, allowing four runs in six innings. He did earn a win against them on April 14 here at Fenway Park, yielding four hits in eight scoreless innings.

Anaheim will counter with Jered Weaver (8-5, 3.85). The second-year righthander allowed two runs in six innings against Schilling and the Red Sox on August 6 but did not factor in the decision. He is 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three career starts against Boston.