Angels at Rangers
Two of baseball's best at their craft square off Sunday night when the Texas Rangers host the Los Angeles Angels in the rubber game of their three-game series. Texas slugger Josh Hamilton attempts to continue his power display against Los Angeles ace Jered Weaver, who has yet to lose this season.
Hamilton leads the major leagues in batting average (.402), home runs (18) and RBIs (41). He has gone deep nine times over his last six games and has more blasts than the San Diego Padres (13). Weaver is tied for first in the American League in wins (five), ranks second in ERA (1.60) and is fifth with 47 strikeouts. Hamilton is 9-for-34 (.265) lifetime against Weaver with five doubles, a homer and three RBIs. Weaver has registered five strikeouts in the head-to-head battle.
The Angels have won eight of their last 12 games while the Rangers have captured four of six. Texas has claimed 13 of the last 21 meetings between the AL West rivals.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (5-0, 1.60 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Neftali Feliz (2-1, 3.38)
Weaver is coming off back-to-back victories over Minnesota in which he allowed a total of one run and three hits over 15 innings. After tossing a no-hitter against the Twins at home May 2, the 29-year-old tossed six strong innings at Target Field five days later for his first road win of the year. Weaver owns a 9-6 record with a 3.41 ERA and two complete games in 25 career starts against Texas.
Feliz will be making the sixth start of his career, all this season. The former closer allowed more than three runs only once over his first five outings. In his only start at home, Feliz tossed seven scoreless innings in a win over Seattle in his season debut. The 24-year-old limited the Orioles to one run and four hits over six frames in a win at Camden Yards on Tuesday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels slugger Albert Pujols went 1-for-3 on Saturday to raise his average to .195.
2. Hamilton is the second player in history to hit 18 homers in the first 34 games of a season. The Phillies' Cy Williams accomplished the feat in 1923.
3. Hamilton's blast Saturday extended his hitting streak to 12 games, but teammate Elvis Andrus went 0-for-3 to end his streak at 11 contests.