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Angels seek to sweep their way out of Texas

Jul 13, 2014 - 1:35 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will try for a four-game sweep of the Texas Rangers as the first half comes to a close at Globe Life Park in Arlington on Sunday afternoon.

The Angels have won nine of their last 10 games after dismissing the Rangers on Saturday, 5-2.

Los Angeles trailed 3-1 heading into the sixth inning before taking control with a four-run frame, with Hank Conger's two-run double proving the be the game-winning hit.

Conger finished 2-for-4 with those two RBI and Howie Kendrick was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Jered Weaver (10-6) was strong in the victory, allowing just four hits and two earned runs over seven innings of work less than a week after leaving his last start early with back pain.

"I just wanted to see how Weave felt," Angels head coach Mike Scioscia said of a seventh-inning mound visit in which he opted to keep Weaver in the game. "Weave was adamant he felt good and talked me into having him stay in the game."

Joe Smith pitched a perfect ninth for the second straight night to earn his 14th save.

Miles Mikolas (0-2) was cruising along until the sixth inning and exited after 5 2/3 innings having allowed nine hits and five runs (four earned).

Both of the Rangers' run came in the second inning, when Rougned Odor roped an RBI double and Shin-Soo Choo recorded an RBI ground out.

The Rangers are now losers of seven in a row and 21 of their last 24.

On Sunday, the Angels will turn to Tyler Skaggs, who's been up and down this season to the tune of a 4-5 record and a 4.15 ERA.

Skaggs has suffered losses in four of his last five decisions, despite not allowing more than four earned runs in any of those outings. He was knocked around for 11 hits in a July 8 setback to Toronto, but he hung tough for 6 2/3 innings by allowing three earned runs.

Skaggs, who turns 23 years old on Sunday, has performed much better on the road this season (2.96 ERA) than he has at home (5.53).

For Texas, Scott Baker will make his 15th appearance of the season, although it's just his fourth start. He's 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA.

Baker has been ineffective thus far in July, owning a 6.00 ERA in nine innings. He lost his only start of the month on July 3, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Orioles

The Angels are 7-2 versus the Rangers this season.