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Rangers to face All-Star Santana in opener against Angels

Jul 7, 2008 - 1:12 PM LA Angels (53-35) at Texas Rangers (46-43), 8:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Ervin Santana hopes to further validate his All-Star selection as the Los Angeles Angels take on the Texas Rangers in the opener of a four-game series on Monday.

Santana (9-3, 3.28) will take the mound for the Angels, who have won four of their last five games, with hopes of slowing Ian Kinsler's hot bat.

The Rangers' second baseman, who was also named to the American League All-Star roster, is riding a 18-game hitting streak and leads the AL with a .332 batting average.

Kinsler went 3-for-5 with a walk on Sunday to finish 7-for-13 with three walks, scoring five runs in Texas' series against the Baltimore Orioles. His current hitting streak is one short of his career high, set earlier this season.

Santana will join teammates Francisco Rodriguez and Joe Saunders in the "Midsummer Classic", marking the first time in the Angels' 41-year history they will have three representatives on the mound.

Shortstop Michael Young (groin) was a late scratch on Sunday and Bradley, one of four Texas players selected to the AL All-Star team, left in the sixth with left knee tendinitis, but the injury is not considered serious.

Rangers starter Luis Mendoza (1-2, 4.64) is coming off a no-decision against the New York Yankees in which he allowed six runs (one earned) and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.