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Angels continue to roll, take on Orioles in middle game of series

Jul 26, 2008 - 10:11 AM LA Angels (63-39) at Baltimore (48-54), 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim keep rolling while the Baltimore Orioles' surprising first half success has caught up to them.

The Angels, who own the best record in the majors, take on the struggling Orioles on Saturday with hopes of winning their seventh game in eight tries during the second half.

Juan Rivera and Casey Kotchman homered to lead the Angels to a 6-5 victory on Friday, but it wasn't easy. All-Star Joe Saunders threw well until he hit a wall in the seventh and closer Francisco Rodriguez nearly failed to notch his 43rd save. The Orioles lost their fourth game in a row and have fallen into the American League East Division's basement by 3 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

Jon Garland (8-6, 4.12 ERA) will take the mound for Anaheim with his sights set on improving to 4-0 in seven starts against AL East opponents.

Garland is coming off a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox in which he surrendered three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Baltimore will counter with Radhames Liz (4-2, 7.19), who beat the Blue Jays on Monday and will try to erase an awful outing on Friday by starter Brian Burres.

Burres recorded five outs in a 6-5 loss to the Angels, a decision that marked the fifth time in his last 11 starts that he's allowed at least two home runs.

The southpaw's ERA has gone up by more than two runs (from 3.16 to 5.37) over that span, and he's logged an ERA over 6.00 in each of the last two months (7.20 in June and 6.75 thus far through July). Burres also marked the seventh straight outing that an Oriole starter has been pulled before completing six innings.

Melvin Mora hopes to get back on his his recent tear. Mora was 9-for-17 over four games before going 0-for-4 on Friday.

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