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Angels look to gain ground in AL West against Mariners

Aug 28, 2007 - 2:25 PM LA Angels (77-54) at Seattle (74-56) 10:05 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will look to extend their lead in the American League West Division when they take on the Seattle Mariners in the second game of the crucial three-game series on Tuesday.

John Lackey pitched a complete-game shutout to lead the Angels to a 6-0 victory on Monday night, as they extended their lead in the AL West to three games over the Mariners.

Seattle remains atop the AL wild card race by two games over the New York Yankees (72-59) despite dropping their last three games.

No starting pitcher has been hotter in August than Jeff Weaver (6-10, 5.51 ERA), who will look to continue his dominance against his former team. After losing four straight starts to end July, Weaver is 4-0 with a 3.14 ERA in August. During his last outing on Thursday, the 31-year-old Weaver allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings, as the Mariners prevailed, 9-4, over the Texas Rangers.

For his career, Weaver is 5-7 with a 3.54 ERA in 14 games - 12 starts - against the Angels. Weaver made 16 starts for the Angels in 2006, going 3-10 before being released by the club and joining the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ervin Santana (5-12, 6.03 ERA) will look for his first win since rejoining the Angels on August 17 when he takes the mound on Tuesday. Santana was sent down to Class AAA Salt Lake during a dismal season which includes a 1-9 record and an 8.06 ERA away from Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Santana wasn't much better in his last start, allowing five runs on eight hits over six innings, suffering a 5-4 setback to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. The 24-year-old righthander is 3-2 with a 4.58 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Angels.