Saturday preview: O's at Angels
Game Preview
Orioles (36-44) at LA Angels (43-35)
Tonight the Orioles reach the halfway point of the 2009 season. They will play their 81st game of the year at 9:05 p.m. in Anaheim vs. the LA Angels.
The O's won 6-4 Friday to even this four-game series at one win each. Luke Scott hit a two-run double and Aubrey Huff added a three-run homer.
The O's still have lost seven of 11 games. But over a longer stretch they are 11-8 over the last 19 games.
David Hernandez picked up his second Major League win. He pitched a career-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing just three runs on six hits. He recorded his first career quality start.
George Sherrill pitch the ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances.
The Orioles had lost 15 of their past 20 games in Anaheim but they picked up the win on Friday.
Last year, the O's were 41-40 after 81 games.
The O's offense produced six runs in Friday's win. The Birds are batting .294 as a team with 106 runs scored over the last 21 games.
Aubrey Huff hit his 11th homer on Friday and is now one homer shy of 200 for his career. The Orioles are 9-1 when Huff homers. Huff has 14 RBI in his last 14 games.
The O's are one of four AL teams with two players with 53 or more RBI. Huff has 55 and Nick Markakis has 53. The other teams are Tampa, Cleveland and Toronto.
Brian Roberts will try to snap his current slump tonight. Roberts is just three for 32 at bat over his last eight games with 12 strikeouts.
The Angels are now tied with Texas for first in the AL West. LA is 7-3 over its last ten games and 14-6 over its past 20 contests. They are 34-23 since May first.
The Orioles are trying for their first series win in Anaheim since August of 2004.
The Angels Bobby Abreu has 31 RBI over his last 31 games, Kendry Morales is batting .367 over an eight-game hit streak and Juan Rivera has 38 RBI over the last 44 games.
The O's are 1-1 on this seven-game trip that heads to Seattle after Sunday's game with the Angels.
O's hitters recently:
Andino: 0-3 Friday ends seven-game batting streak
Huff: Hitting .327-3-14 his last 14 games
Jones: Has one homer in 32 games since May 26
Markakis: Over nine games is batting .368-0-8
Mora: No homers in 44 games and 166 at bats
Pie: Is 7 for 17, 4 RBI during five-game hitting streak
Reimold: Is 1 for 12 his last three games
Roberts: Is 3 for 32 over eight games
Salazar: Has three hits his last seven at bats
Scott: During five-game hit streak is 6-19/2/5
Wieters: Is 5-14/0/2 during four-game batting streak
Wigginton: Last 11 games is hitting .425-3-7
Zaun: Over five games is 9-17/2/4
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