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Weaver Looks To Help Angels Avoid Sweep Against White Sox

(Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox try to win their fourth straight game this afternoon when they go for a sweep in the finale of their three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

The White Sox continued their recent mastery of the Angels on Saturday, as John Danks pitched eight innings of two-run baseball, helping Chicago to a 6-2 win.

Danks (14-11), who gave up seven hits, fanned five batters and walked two to pick up his first win since September 4 for the White Sox, whose current winning streak come on the heels of an eight-game skid.

"I tried to finish on a high note," Danks said. "Guys made some good plays behind me and we scored six runs."

Ramon Castro hit a solo homer for the White Sox, who got two RBI from Alexei Ramirez. Alex Rios, Juan Pierre, and Manny Ramirez each knocked in a run. Chicago has now won six in a row against Los Angeles for the first time since April 7- June 10, 1992.

Howie Kendrick and Torii Hunter had an RBI apiece for Los Angeles, which has lost three in a row.

Scott Kazmir (9-15) lasted just three-plus innings in the start, allowing five runs on five hits. The left-hander is 1-6 over his last nine starts.

"He didn't have good command tonight and never got into a rhythm," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Kazmir. "We had a lot of opportunities with guys in scoring position."

Heading to the hill for the White Sox this afternoon will be right-hander Tony Pena, who will be making his second start, replacing the injured Gavin Floyd. Pena has primarily been a reliever this season, but made a spot start on August 21 in Kansas City, but did not get a decision, allowing four runs and five hits in seven innings of a 7-6 win.

He is 4-2 on the year with a 4.87 ERA.

The Angels, meanwhile, will counter with right-hander Jered Weaver, who has won his last two starts. Weaver beat the Texas Rangers on Monday, holding them to three runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings to run his record to 13-11 to go along with a 2.99 ERA.

With 220 strikeouts on the year Weaver is just seven behind Felix Hernandez for the major league lead.

"They don't call me King Weaver, they call him King Felix," Weaver said. "He's the strikeout king, so what are you going to do?"

Weaver, who has pitched to a 1.72 ERA in 15 home starts this season, is 4-1 lifetime against the White Sox with a 1.32 ERA in six starts.

Chicago, which has won six of its eight matchups with Los Angeles this year, last swept the Halos in Anaheim from April 28-30, 2006.