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Angels have momentum for critical series with Mariners

Aug 27, 2007 - 1:23 PM LA Angels (76-54) at Seattle (73-55) 10:05 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are looking to increase their American League West advantage when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Monday for the opener of an important three-game series.

Escobar threw eight stellar innings and Garret Anderson homered as the Angels posted a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, which extended their division lead over the Mariners to two games.

Seattle suffered a 5-3 setback to the Texas Rangers on Sunday, thanks to a strong performance by Vincente Padilla and a two-run shot from Sammy Sosa.

Los Angeles will send their ace, John Lackey (15-8, 3.34 ERA), to the mound. Lackey has lost his last two starts but has been phenomenal against Seattle this season.

The 28-year-old righthander has hurled 15 scoreless innings in his two starts - both wins - against the Mariners this year. Lackey is 8-8 with a 4.27 ERA against them in his career.

Seattle will counter with Miguel Batista (13-9, 4.57), who is coming off his worst start of the season. The Dominican righthander was tagged for eight runs and nine hits over just two innings in a 8-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

The Mariners still hold a two-game advantage of the New York Yankees (72-58) in the AL wild card race.