SPORTS N STUFF

TIME: 08:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Minute Maid Park

TIME: 10:10 P.M. EST
VENUE: Dodger Stadium

A matchup between the Cardinals Lance Lynn and the Dodgers Ted Lilly doesnt immediately scream pitchers duel, but theyre both throwing like aces these days.

Runs could be hard to come Friday night at Dodger Stadium when Lynn and Lilly square off to open a series between division leaders.

Lynn (6-1, 1.81 ERA) earned a spot in St. Louis starting rotation only because 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter is on the disabled list, but he has taken full advantage of his opportunity. His ERA is third-best in the majors and his .171 opponent batting average ranks second. Lilly (5-0, 2.11), meanwhile, is limiting opposing hitters to a .172 average.

Like Lynn, Lilly isnt the most prominent pitcher in his teams rotation – that would be reigning NL Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw – but he has been outstanding in his own right, ranking eighth in the majors in both ERA and WHIP (0.97).

Despite the sensational starts, Lilly and Lynn are coming off their respective worst showings of the season.

After posting a 1.41 ERA in his first five starts for the Dodgers (25-13), Lilly permitted five runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings against Colorado on Sunday, but received plenty of run support and emerged with an 11-5 victory. The 14-year veterans winning streak is now up to eight dating to last season, and he is trying to become the first Dodgers starting pitcher to open 6-0 since Kazuhisa Ishii in 2002.

Although Lilly has pitched in the NL for the last half-dozen years, he hasnt faced the Cardinals (22-16) since 2009, while playing for the Cubs. The left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his last eight starts versus St. Louis.

Lynn yielded a season-high three runs – all on Jason Heywards bases-clearing double in the third – and four hits in six innings of Sundays 7-4 loss to Atlanta. The right-hander has never faced Los Angeles and, after Friday, hell still never have faced Matt Kemp, who is on the DL with a strained left hamstring. However, the Dodgers proved they can still generate offense without their No. 3 hitter in Thursdays 8-1 win over San Diego.

“We just seemed to have more energy (Thursday),” Don Mattingly said of his team, which had totaled three runs while losing its first two games without Kemp.

Every Dodgers regular except leadoff batter Dee Gordon had at least one hit Thursday, and Gordon had a sacrifice fly. Andre Ethier had two hits and drove in his NL-leading 35th run, and could be poised for another big game. He has hit safely in 12 straight home games against the Cardinals, batting .468 with eight doubles.

St. Louis Carlos Beltran ranks second in the NL with 32 RBIs, but has not started in the last four games because of a right knee injury. It is uncertain if Beltran, who hit .360 with two homers in seven games at Dodger Stadium last season, will be in the starting lineup for the series opener.

The Cardinals arrive in Southern California after suffering a 7-5 loss to San Francisco on Thursday, their fifth defeat in seven games. St. Louis owns a 2 1/2-game Central lead despite the slump.

Los Angeles, owner of baseballs best record, won the final four games of last seasons series with St. Louis after losing the previous seven meetings between the clubs dating to 2010.

TIME: 10:15 P.M. EST
VENUE: AT&T Park

With losses piling up, the Colorado Rockies are hoping they dont have to play too long without Troy Tulowitzki.

The All-Star shortstop appeared to avoid a major injury during a freak incident in San Francisco, but his status is unknown for the Rockies attempt to continue their success against Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum.

Tulowitzki injured his left leg Monday night when he was struck by teammate Dexter Fowlers foul ball while standing on the dugout steps. He initially stayed in the came but was removed after hobbling to first on an infield single.

Subsequent X-rays showed no bone break or major damage, and the shortstop is considered day to day.

“All I can tell you is we dodged a serious bullet there,” manager Jim Tracy said. “If that ball would have been a couple of inches left, it might have hit him right in the kneecap. We were really fortunate.”

Thats not a word that would describe the Rockies lately – theyre 1-9 over their last 10 games and 1-6 on a road trip against NL West foes.

Colorado – batting .212 over its last eight games – had five hits during Mondays 3-2 defeat, with Wilin Rosario recording his teams lone RBI on a solo homer. Buster Posey and Brett Pill hit RBI singles for the Giants (18-17) in the eighth inning.

With or without Tulowitzki, the Rockies (13-21) will try to continue to make it difficult on Lincecum (2-3, 5.89 ERA). The right-hander gave up a season-high six runs while failing to make it past the third inning for the first time in his career during a 17-8 loss to Colorado on April 11.

Lincecum also surrendered seven runs during a 7-4 defeat last May but only three were earned. His six losses over 18 matchups are tied for his most against any team.

The right-hander, though, is 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA in his last four home matchups against Colorado, but the most recent of those, however, took place Sept. 1, 2010. Hes also 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his past two starts at AT&T Park.

If he can avoid the big inning, Lincecum might have a chance to continue that success and power the Giants to a season-high fourth straight win. Hes allowed a combined seven runs in his last two starts, three during the opening frame of a 6-4 loss to Milwaukee on May 4 and four in the fourth inning of Wednesdays 6-2 defeat to Los Angeles.

Before that frame, Lincecum had fanned six of the 12 batters he faced.

“I thought he had great stuff,” manager Bruce Bochy told the teams website. “It was electric at times. He should be encouraged. We are. Unfortunately, that (fourth) inning counts.”

Lincecums first loss since April 16 also marked the fourth time in seven outings this season hes failed to pitch beyond the fifth inning. His counterpart Tuesday, Jeremy Guthrie (2-1, 5.92), had lasted seven innings in three of his four outings this season before going on the disabled list for a sprained right shoulder suffered April 27 after the chain to his bicycle fell off and sent him tumbling on the way to Coors Field.

The only outing in which the right-hander struggled, though, was against San Francisco on April 11. He allowed six runs and nine hits over 3 1-3 innings in that game and is 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in his two career matchups.

Melky Cabrera had two hits off Guthrie last month and is 13 for 34 (.382) with five doubles in his career versus the right-hander.

Todd Heltons 13 hits are tied for the most by any batter against Lincecum. Hes hitting .371 versus the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, and Carlos Gonzalez had a pair of RBI triples during the matchup in April.

TIME: 07:10 P.M. EST
VENUE: Citi Field

TIME: 10:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim

After their most recent road series, the Los Angeles Angels are probably looking forward to the chance to get back home, even for just a few days.

Given the way their next opponent has played in Anaheim lately, the Angels might have some trouble making their return a successful one.

The Oakland Athletics might also be a little healthier when they seek their seventh win in nine road games against their AL West rivals Monday night.

Los Angeles gave up 25 runs while dropping two of three in Texas, finishing off a six-game road trip Sunday by getting drubbed 13-6. The Angels (15-20) return to play a pair of two-game series before heading back out for 10 straight on the road.

In the opener of that brief homestand, Los Angeles is hoping Dan Haren (1-3, 4.19 ERA) has healed enough from back stiffness to pitch effectively against his former team. The right-hander gave up five runs over 3 2-3 innings – his shortest start in nearly seven years – in a 5-0 loss in Minnesota on Tuesday.

Haren is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts this month after going 1-1 with a 3.34 ERA in his first five outings.

“Im trying to give it as much rest as I can,” he told the teams official website. “Im sure itll be fine.”

Haren would love to duplicate the latest outing against the As (18-17). He gave up a solo homer and five hits over 6 2-3 innings to Oakland on April 17 in Anaheim but the As rallied late for a 5-3 win, the first of three straight to conclude a four-game series.

Hell once again start opposite Tyson Ross (1-3, 7.71), who had a better effort Wednesday after two awful outings. The right-hander gave up three runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings against Toronto but didnt get much help while losing a third consecutive start.

Before that 5-2 defeat, Ross surrendered a combined 16 runs over 7 1-3 innings in losses to Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

Hes fared a little better against the Angels, the team hes faced the most. Ross gave up two runs over six innings during last months game in Anaheim after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento, giving him a 2.70 ERA in three starts in the series.

Ross is 0-1 in those matchups, though, and might not have much luck beating the Angels if the As are short-handed again.

Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes was placed on the disabled list this weekend and Oakland had four other players sit out Sundays 3-1 home loss to Detroit with day-to-day ailments. Kila Kaaihue (hamstring) will likely miss Mondays game, but Kurt Suzuki (hand), Jemile Weeks (ankle) and Brandon Inge (groin) might return.

“It just depends on how they feel tomorrow during batting practice and so far,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Were really not sure until we see how everyone feels.”

Inge has four home runs and 16 RBIs over his last six games, but is 1 for 23 in his last seven against the Angels and 3 for 14 all-time against Haren. Suzuki is 7 for 16 versus the right-hander.

Torii Hunter is 4 for 9 against Ross but is currently mired in a 2-for-30 slump.

TIME: 08:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

Josh Hamilton is hitting the ball hard and the opponent hasnt made much of a difference.

That may be why its somewhat surprising that he hasnt enjoyed consistent success against the Kansas City Royals.

Hamilton looks to continue his torrid pace at the plate as the AL-leading Texas Rangers open a two-game set against the visiting Royals on Monday night.

Hamilton leads the majors with a .402 average, 18 homers and 44 RBIs thanks in part to his production during a 13-game hitting streak, his longest since a career-high 23-game run June 4-30, 2010.

The All-Star center fielder is batting .420 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs during his current streak, and he didnt show any signs of slowing down in Sundays 13-6 win over Los Angeles. He collected two more hits, including a double, while driving in three runs.

“I really havent thought about it, it really hasnt been different for me,” Hamilton said of his staggering production, which includes at least one hit in 29 of his 32 games. “Im really not paying attention to results. Im just, same old thing, going out and trying to do whatever I can to help the team.”

Hamilton has helped the Rangers (23-12) build an early five-game lead atop the AL West on second-place Oakland.

Continuing that outstanding pace versus the Royals (13-20) may be an issue. Hamilton owns a .221 average with three homers and 18 RBIs in 24 career meetings, hitting .182 in 13 at Rangers Ballpark.

If Hamilton has a tough time against Kansas City, Nelson Cruz and Elvis Andrus are likely candidates to pick up the slack. Both matched career highs with four-hit performances Sunday.

Cruz, who hit his third career grand slam, is 14 for 28 with seven RBIs in his last seven games. Andrus has a .436 average with eight RBIs and 12 runs over the past 13, boosting his season average 72 points to .328.

The Royals come in winners in four of five after beating Chicago 9-1 on Sunday following a 5-0 victory a day earlier.

Mike Moustakas missed both of those contests with a sore left hamstring, but may be back in the lineup to face Texas for the first time. The third baseman was batting .373 with six doubles and two homers in 16 games prior to the injury.

Kansas City would certainly like to see Moustakas back, and itll also hope Bruce Chen (1-4, 4.83 ERA) can deliver a performance similar to his latest outing.

The left-hander allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 win over Boston on Wednesday after losing four starts in a row behind a 6.56 ERA.

“I know Ive been pitching well,” Chen said. “I didnt worry. I didnt try to do too much. I trust my stuff, my teammates.”

Chen, a member of the Rangers briefly in 2007, is 1-2 with a 10.58 ERA in eight games – four starts – against his former team.

Texas will counter with Scott Feldman (0-0, 4.35) in a spot start after a doubleheader last week altered the rotation. The right-hander has made one start this season, yielding two runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings of a 7-3 win over New York on April 25.

Feldman is 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA in four starts against the Royals, last facing them in a loss May 26, 2010.

The Rangers may be without bench coach Jackie Moore, who was hospitalized after feeling light-headed Sunday. He left the bench in the sixth inning, but a team spokesman said the 73-year-old Moore was feeling better by the time he was looked at in the clubhouse.

He was expected to be held overnight as a precaution.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 13, 2012

PHOENIX — Matt Cain did a little of everything. He pitched six strong innings, knocked in a pair of runs, took a nasty shot off the shin, then slid hard into second base.

The result was a sorely needed 5-2 victory for the San Francisco Giants, their first win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in 10 tries.

“What an old-school type effort Cain gave us,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “Pitched, swung the bat, ran the bases. Got the big hit wed been looking for. He just looked very determined out there.”

Cain allowed a run and three hits in six innings, striking out eight, walking two and hitting a batter in his first victory in five outings.

Cain called Bochys “old-school” comment “a huge compliment.”

“Thats kind of the way I was brought up,” he said.

Trevor Cahill (2-4) took the loss as Arizona was beaten for the sixth time in seven games.

“We didnt play well,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “We didnt swing the bats well, struck out 11 times and took five of them. They did a good job of pitching us but we really didnt have that many opportunities. We were 0 for 6 on with runners in scoring position. They had a lot more pressure on us.”

Cain singled twice. His second brought in two runs after Cahill had hit consecutive batters with two outs in the sixth. Cain said he likes to show that he can do more than just pitch.

“Thats the nice part about being in the National League,” he said, “is you feel like you can benefit to the team in different ways, whether its getting a bunt down or doing different things. You always love to be able to contribute when you have a chance to at the plate.”

Santiago Casilla pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in eight tries.

San Francisco beat Arizona for the first time since last Sept. 3.

“We know it,” Cain said of the Giants troubles with the Diamondbacks. “Weve talked about it. Weve had the situation to where we felt like weve played good enough to beat these guys. We need to really focus down and play better. I think thats something we really need to carry over to tomorrow.”

Melky Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single and pair of RBI doubles. Angel Pagan went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk for the Giants.

Cabreras RBI double gave San Francisco the lead for good 2-1 in the fifth. Cain started the inning with a single, then Gregor Blanco reached on a fielders choice. Blanco stole second before Cabreras double down the right-field line brought him home.

In the sixth, Pagans leadoff single was erased with a double play, but Cahill hit Manny Burriss and Brandon Crawford – the seventh and eighth batters in the order – to bring up Cain, whose single to right ended the Arizona starters night. Cahill entered the game with a 3-0 record and 1.20 ERA in four career starts against San Francisco.

San Francisco loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, thanks in part to third baseman Ryan Roberts fielding error, but Joaquin Arias bounced into a forceout at home, then reliever Craig Breslow struck out Burriss looking.

The Diamondbacks cut it to 4-2 in the seventh helped by shortstop Crawfords eighth error of the season and second in as many nights. Jason Kubel doubled with one out and took third when the left fielder Cabrera threw wild to second. After two outs, pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt grounded to Crawford, whose throwing error allowed Kubel to score.

The Giants added a run in the ninth when Belt led off with a triple and scored on Cabreras double.

Third baseman Arias robbed Ryan Roberts with a slick fielding play to end the eighth.

Notes

Cain was in line to win his previous start against Milwaukee with a 3-2 lead entering the ninth but Giants closer Casilla blew his first save of the season and the Brewers won 4-3 in 11. … The Chase Field roof was closed when the game began but was opened after four innings. … The Giants entered the game hitting .207 with runners in scoring position, second-worst in the majors behind Miamis .199. … Cains only other win this season came in his second start, a complete game 5-0 win over Pittsburgh on April 13, when he struck out 11 and walked none. … Barry Zito (1-1, 2.21 ERA) starts for San Francisco in the series finale on Sunday while the Diamondbacks go with Joe Saunders (2-2, 2.50). … The Giants lead the majors in errors with 37.

TIME: 04:10 P.M. EST
VENUE: Chase Field

Although he doesnt have many wins to show for it, Barry Zito is off to one of his best starts in his six seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

His next outing, though, will come at a park where he hasnt had much success recently.

Zito seeks his first victory in more than a month Sunday when he faces the Arizona Diamondbacks and fellow left-hander Joe Saunders, who will attempt to bounce back from his worst outing of the season.

Zito (1-1, 2.21 ERA) has posted a lower ERA through his first six starts only one other time since crossing the bay from Oakland before the 2007 season, going 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA in 2010. He faded badly thereafter, finishing 9-14 with a 4.15 ERA.

Nine total runs of support over his last five outings is one reason why Zitos record isnt as gaudy this time around. He got one run from his teammates in a 9-1 loss Monday to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Zito allowed three runs over six innings, matching the most hes given up in his six outings.

“Theres going to be rough stretches defensively, offensively and pitching-wise. Its just part of the game, so you cant let that come into your head,” said Zito, whose lone win came in his April 9 season debut at Colorado. “Youve just got to come out there and make your pitch and be aggressive.”

Zitos last start in Arizona is likely one he wishes he could forget. He gave up two runs in 1 2-3 innings April 16, 2011, before leaving the game with a sprained right foot that caused him to miss the next 2 1/2 months.

Zito, who is 1-4 with a 6.45 ERA in his last eight starts at Arizona (15-19), might have trouble earning another win there if Saunders (2-2, 2.50) can regain his recent form.

Saunders was 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA through his first five starts, before getting tagged for seven runs over 3 1-3 innings of Mondays 9-6 home loss to St. Louis.

“Some nights you have it, some nights you dont, and I didnt have it,” he told the Diamondbacks official website. “Left some balls up and paid for it. Its a bad start, turn the page. I had five good starts before this one.”

Saunders is 0-3 with a 4.15 ERA in four career starts against the Giants (16-17). He turned in a strong performance the last time he faced them, Sept. 23 at home, giving up one run and scattering nine hits over seven innings. He failed to get a decision, though, as the Diamondbacks didnt pull ahead to earn the go-ahead runs in a 3-1 victory until after he exited the game.

That win was one of nine in a row for Arizona over San Francisco, but the Giants finally snapped that skid with a 5-2 victory Saturday. Melky Cabrera went 3 for 5 with a pair of RBI doubles to extend his hit streak to 10 games, and Angel Pagan was 3 for 3 for the Giants.

“We felt like weve played good enough to beat these guys,” San Francisco starter Matt Cain said. “We need to really focus down and play better. I think thats something we really need to carry over to tomorrow.”

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 12, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — With his team up by one, the potential tying run on third and Jose Bautista at the plate looking to hit his third home run Friday night, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire had to decide if he should intentionally walk the Toronto slugger.

To help make his decision, Gardenhire channeled his predecessor, former Twins manager Tom Kelly.

Matt Capps got Bautista to pop out to third and Minnesota held on to beat the Blue Jays, 7-6.

“TK told me a long time ago, Dont take the ball out of the hands of your closer,” Gardenhire said. `”Let him make the decisions. If he wants to pitch around a guy, leave it up to him. I did it once in New York and TK yelled at me. I didnt take it out of his hands tonight.”

It was Capps sixth save in six chances.

Darin Mastroianni got his first major league hit and drove in three runs for Minnesota.

Ryan Doumit added two RBIs and Denard Span had two hits and scored twice in a game that lasted 3 hours, 17 minutes, after rain delayed the first pitch for 1 hour, 51 minutes. Nick Blackburn snapped a 13-start winless streak.

Mastroianni clapped his hands and yelled to himself after both of his hits. It was a rare display of excitement and jubilation in what has been a miserable season for the Twins, baseballs worst team so far.

“Just to be in the books that you got a hit in the big leagues, for it to be such an important one is something I cant imagine,” said Mastroianni, who played one game with Toronto last season. “The second one was just as big as the first one.”

Bautista hit two solo homers, raising his total at spacious Target Field to nine in nine career games. Minnesota stars Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau have hit seven home runs in 194 games at the 3-year-old ballpark.

“Its bad news, we lost. Im not going to make this game about me or my results,” said Bautista, who slammed his bat on the ground while trotting to first after popping up in the ninth. “Bottom line, we came out here to try to win a game and we didnt. Were not going to kill ourselves over it, its just one game.”

Eric Thames and Edwin Encarnacion also homered for Toronto, which lost for only the second time in nine games at Target Field.

Mastroiannis single in the fifth scored Josh Willingham and Doumit to give the Twins a 6-2 lead.

Bautista led off the sixth with his second home run of the night and Thames followed two batters later with a two-run shot that landed in front of the black batters eye in center field.

After Mastroianni drove in an insurance run in the seventh with a single to left, Encarnacion went deep off reliever Glen Perkins to cut it to 7-6.

Perkins then allowed two singles, but got Colby Rasmus to ground into a double play and pinch-hitter Ben Francisco to fly out.

Willingham, not known for his defense, made a diving catch on Franciscos blooper to left field, allowing Perkins to exhale as he walked off the mound.

“I just ran as hard as these little legs could go,” Willingham said. “When I got close, I knew Id have to dive for it.”

Blackburn (1-4) was pulled after Thames home run, but left with a lead for the first time this season.

Kyle Drabek (2-4) was removed after 4 1/3 innings and 109 pitches — only 61 for strikes. Hes lost four consecutive starts for the first time in his career.

Drabeks short outing also broke a 34-game streak of Toronto starters lasting at least five innings.

The Blue Jays entered with the third-highest walk total in the American League. Four pitchers walked nine Twins in the game and five of Minnesotas seven runs reach base via walk.

Minnesota failed to capitalize early, however, going 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position before getting four runs in the fifth.

When the long day was finally over early Saturday morning, Gardenhire and the Twins had something to be happy about for the first time in a long time.

“Were going to start every game at 9 oclock and have chicken pot pie for lunch,” Gardenhire said. “Thats what we decided after this one.”

Notes

Gardenhire said Morneau might take some swings to test his sore wrist on Saturday. Gardenhire doesnt expect Morneau to go on a rehab assignment when he returns. … The Blue Jays record for consecutive games in which the starter lasted at least five innings is 43, set from May 5 to June 21 in 1996. … Twins reliever Jared Burton pitched a scoreless seventh and has not allowed a run or hit in his last 11 1-3 innings. … The Twins have allowed 20 homers in nine games against the Blue Jays at Target Field. … Mauer tied his career high with three walks. … P.J. Walters gets his first start for the Twins on Saturday. Walters was called up from Triple-A Rochester after Wednesdays loss to the Angels and is 2-0 with a 7.24 ERA in two career starts. Drew Hutchinson (1-1) goes for Toronto. The rookie has allowed four or more runs in three of his four starts.

TIME: 01:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

After being liberal with their respective checkbooks in the offseason, it was expected the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers would wage a wire-to-wire battle for first place in the AL West.

Less than six weeks into the season ? and following the first of 19 head-to-head meetings ? its clear which team has the upper hand.

Sporting the best record in the major leagues, the Rangers go for their fifth win in six games as they meet the last-place Angels on Saturday afternoon in Arlington.

Texas (22-11) got two more homers from Josh Hamilton, and Yu Darvish put together a solid outing to bounce back from his first big-league loss en route to a 10-3 victory Friday to match the franchises best start after 33 games.

Darvish, who the Rangers spent $51.7 million just for negotiating rights last winter, returned after a nearly two-hour rain delay and struck out seven over 5 1-3 innings. He also surrendered just three hits, including homers to Mike Trout and Torii Hunter.

Hamilton, meanwhile, continued arguably the finest week of his six-year major league career in what could ultimately be a season for the ages as he belted two more homers among three hits.

Hamilton has an 11-game hitting streak, but in his last five, hes gone 11 for 21 (.524) with eight homers, 14 RBI, a .600 on-base percentage and 1.714 slugging percentage. While its too early to think about Hamilton having a Triple Crown season, he leads the majors with a .407 batting average, 17 homers and 40 RBIs.

“Hes as locked in as any hitter can be right now,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Meanwhile, Albert Pujols ? the Angels $240 million first baseman ? went 0 for 4, lowering his average to .192. The three-time NL Most Valuable Player is hitting .132 (5 for 38) with his only homer of the season and seven RBIs in May.

Jerome Williams was to start for the Angels on Saturday, but was pressed into service Friday after the long delay kept starter C.J. Wilson ? another high-priced free agent signing – from returning after throwing 22 pitches.

Williams allowed both of Hamiltons homers while yielding six runs and 11 hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Los Angeles (14-19), which has dropped two of three and trails Texas by eight games, will come back with Wilson (4-3, 3.46 ERA) on Saturday.

“Two hours is too long for C.J. to go back out,” Scioscia said, “and he felt really strong that he could come back and start (Saturday), and we felt that was the best option.”

The left-hander was reached for four runs and three hits in one-third of an inning Friday before the rain.

The Rangers will go with Matt Harrison (4-2, 5.11).

Also a left-hander, Harrison avoided losing his third straight start after surrendering three runs and six hits in seven innings of the Rangers 14-3 win at Baltimore on Monday.

Harrison was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two home starts during April. He hasnt pitched in Arlington since being ripped for seven runs and a season-high 14 hits over five innings of an 8-4 loss to Tampa Bay on April 27.

In five games ? three starts ? against the Angels, Harrison is 1-2 with a 5.95 ERA. Hunter and fellow outfielder Vernon Wells have each gone 1 for 10 off Harrison, although Hunters hit was a three-run homer.

Wells was hitless in four trips to the plate Friday and is 0 for 8 in his last two games.