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Angels-Orioles Preview

Apr 29, 2009 - 3:58 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Los Angeles (7-11) at Baltimore (9-11), 12:35 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels aren't used to residing near the bottom of the AL West. The basement of the AL East, meanwhile, is becoming an all too familiar home for the Baltimore Orioles.

The Angels seek their first three-game win streak of the season Wednesday afternoon when they conclude a brief two-game set with the Orioles at Camden Yards.

After their fourth division title in five years and a franchise-record 100 wins last season, the Angels (8-11) were again expected to be the class of the West in 2009.

Injuries to pitchers Kelvim Escobar, John Lackey, Dustin Moseley, Darren Oliver and Ervin Santana, however, have left Los Angeles with a makeshift rotation. Star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero is also out with a torn pectoral muscle, weakening a lineup that lost slugger Mark Teixeira and Garret Anderson to free agency.

The Angels also have endured a tragedy-filled April beginning with the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed along with two friends in a collision with a suspected drunken driver during the first week of the season.

Before Tuesday night's 7-5 victory over the Orioles (9-12), the Angels were the only team in the majors yet to win consecutive games. The slow start is in stark contrast to last year when they won 12 of their first 19 contests.

"I couldn't tell you when we had two in a row anytime, or when we lost two in a row or anything. We looked at the game we had on this night," manager Mike Scioscia said. "And when this one's over, we'll turn the page and carry a little momentum into (Wednesday) afternoon's game."

Howie Kendrick hit a two-run homer and Kendry Morales had two doubles and two RBIs Tuesday for Los Angeles, which was coming off an 8-0 victory over Seattle on Sunday.

The Angels are 14-6 against the Orioles since the start of the 2007 season, winning seven of 10 at Camden Yards.

Melvin Mora had three hits and two RBIs in his first game since April 12 for the Orioles, losers of 10 of 13 after a 6-2 start. Baltimore has finished higher than fourth in the East only once since 1997.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley was ejected for arguing a balk call on Jamie Walker in the seventh inning.

"Angel (Hernandez) didn't see it. He didn't think he stepped good enough towards first base. I don't like it when somebody is wrong and they try to tell me they're right. They are umpires, they do a great job, but they are not always right."

Right fielder Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 15 games, two short of his career high. He's hitting .390 (23-for-59) with 14 RBIs during his run.

Shane Loux (0-2, 6.61 ERA) looks to rebound from his worst performance of the season for Los Angeles. The right-hander's ERA jumped nearly three full runs after he was reached for seven runs and 11 hits over four innings Friday in an 8-3 home loss to Seattle.

He made his only career appearance against the Orioles on Aug. 5, throwing two scoreless innings of relief in the Angels' 3-0 loss.

Koji Uehara (2-1, 4.56) tries to become the first Baltimore starter to three wins. He was in line for that third victory after limiting Texas to two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings on Friday, but George Sherrill served up a two-run homer in the ninth as the Orioles lost 5-4.

Since getting hit hard at Texas on April 13, the right-hander has allowed only four runs and nine hits in his past two starts, spanning 13 2-3 innings.