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Escobar goes for fifth straight win

Sep 1, 2007 - 2:43 PM Texas (61-73) at LA Angels (80-54) 3:55 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - Hoping to avoid yet another late-inning thriller, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continue their three-game set with the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

The Angels, who notched their 15th win in their final at-bat in Friday's 7-6 victory in 10 innings, rallied from a deficit en route to a win for the 32nd time this season. As a result, the Angels own the major's best record and a 6 1/2-game lead over Seattle (73-60) in the American League West.

If recent history repeats itself, Kelvim Escobar (15-6, 2.77 ERA) will be able to help Anaheim avoid another extra-inning affair as he is 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA over his last four outings. In Sunday's 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, he permitted one run and six hits over eight innings.

In 32 lifetime appearances - 14 starts - against the Rangers, the righthander is 4-8 with a 4.01 ERA. However, he is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three starts against Texas this season.

One of the Rangers' top pitching prospects, 24-year-old Edinson Volquez (NR), will be recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma to make his season debut. He has pitched well at three minor league stops in the Rangers' organization this season, compiling a 14-6 record with a 3.67 ERA in 26 starts, including a 6-1 mark with a 1.41 ERA at Oklahoma.

The righthander has made 14 appearances - 11 starts - over the last two seasons at the major league level, going 1-10 with a 9.20 ERA. Against the Angels, he is 0-3 with a 11.57 ERA in four career appearances, including two starts.