• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Saunders seeks AL-best 15th win

Aug 4, 2008 - 1:47 PM Baltimore (53-57) at LA Angels (69-42) 10:05 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Getting his first extended opportunity in the rotation at the start of the season, Joe Saunders seemed a likely candidate to have a fine year. There was very little to suggest, however, that he could emerge as one of the majors' best pitchers.

Saunders attempts to become the first American League pitcher to reach the 15-win mark on Monday when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles.

Entering this season with a 15-8 career record and a 4.71 ERA, Saunders (14-5, 3.09 ERA) was given an opportunity to stick with Anaheim on a full-time basis in spring training.

After earning a spot in the rotation with a strong showing in exhibition play, the lefthander solidified his position by starting the year with a 6-0 record.

Saunders continued his breakout campaign in Wednesday's 9-2 win over the Red Sox, allowing two runs and five hits over six innings to post his 14th win, tied with the New York Yankees' Mike Mussina and the Cleveland Indians' Cliff Lee for the AL lead.

The Orioles will counter with Dennis Sarfate (4-2, 4.00), who will attempt to rebound for a rough loss in his first major league start after making 60 career relief appearances.

The righthander surrendered five runs - three earned - but only two hits over four frames in Wednesday's 13-3 setback to the Yankees.

After winning two of three games from the Yankees earlier last week, the Orioles also won two of three contests from the Seattle Mariners, who rallied for an 8-4 triumph in Sunday's series finale.

Anaheim also is looking to rebound from a loss, an ugly 14-9 setback Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

Mark Teixeira belted a grand slam, his first homer as a member of the Angels, to give Anaheim a 9-8 lead in the eighth inning. But the Angels yielded 10 unearned runs over the final two innings and committed a season-high four errors.