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Angels, Indians continue battle of division leaders

Sep 7, 2007 - 1:31 PM Cleveland (81-59) at LA Angels (83-57) 10:05 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Garret Anderson is enjoying a career resurgence over the last few weeks, and breaking a few team records along the way.

Anderson will look to stay hot when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Cleveland Indians in the second game of a four game battle between division leaders.

The veteran slugger set a franchise record on Thursday when he recorded an RBI in his 11th straight game. Since registering 10 RBI in a game against the New York Yankees on August 31, Anderson is batting .417 with nine homers and 31 RBI.

Looking to join Boston's Josh Beckett and the New York Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang for the major league lead in wins, John Lackey (16-8, 3.26 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels. Anaheim's ace is 4-2 over his last seven starts with a 3.22 ERA, including a pair of shutouts.

The 28-year-old righthander has had mixed results against the Indians in his career, compiling just a 3-5 record despite a strong 3.03 ERA in nine starts.

Cleveland will counter with sinkerballer Jake Westbrook (5-8, 4.43). The veteran righthander has picked up his performance since the All-Star break, going 4-4 with a 3.22 ERA. He started the season just 1-4 with a 6.27 mark.

The Indians have won 13 of their last 16 games to open up a six-game cushion in the AL Central over the Detroit Tigers (75-65), while Anaheim owns a comfortable eight-game lead over the Seattle Mariners (74-64) in the AL West.