Baltimore (22-28) at LA Angels (21-28) 3:35 pm EDT
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - One of the drawbacks to Kelvim
Escobar's signing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim prior
to the 2004 season is that he would have fewer opportunities to
face the Baltimore Orioles.
However, Escobar has an opportunity to resume his career
domination of the Orioles on Sunday when the Angels seek to
extend their season-high winning streak to five games.
Escobar (5-4, 3.60 ERA) spent the first seven years of his
career with the Toronto Blue Jays, during which he compiled the
bulk of a 12-3 lifetime record against Baltimore.
The Venezuelan righthander enters having dropped his last two
starts, however, despite allowing three runs in each outing. He
worked 6 1/3 innings Tuesday at Texas but took the loss in the
3-2 setback as his teammates gave him no more than three runs of
support for the fourth time in five games.
Escobar will try to help the Angels complete a three-game sweep
of the Orioles, who are just 4-15 in their last 19 road games.
Anaheim posted a 10-1 triumph on Saturday as Jered Weaver worked
seven scoreless innings in his major league debut. Fellow
rookie Kendry Morales belted a three-run homer and Garret
Anderson and Tim Salmon each drove in two runs for the Angels,
whose winning streak has directly followed a six-game skid.
The Orioles will give the ball to Kris Benson (6-4, 4.62), who
will be pitching on three days' rest. The righthander had a
personal two-game winning streak snapped Wednesday as he was
rocked for seven runs in a season-low two innings of a 7-4
setback against Seattle.