(Sports Network) - In-season acquisition Dan Haren makes the ninth start in a so-far unsuccessful stint with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight when they host the Cleveland Indians to begin a three-game series at Angel Stadium.
A 14-game winner with the National League's Arizona Diamondbacks last season, the 29-year-old Haren was sent to the Angels at the non-waiver trade deadline in July in exchange for left-hander Joe Saunders.
He was expected to help the defending American League West champions in defense of their title, but has instead gone 2-4 in eight starts as Los Angeles has plummeted to third in the division and 9 1/2 games behind first- place Texas.
The Californian tossed seven scoreless innings in a hard-luck no-decision in an Aug. 31 start at Seattle, scattering seven hits and striking out eight in the Angels' 3-1 loss to the Mariners.
He was effective over six innings in a 12-3 defeat of Tampa Bay one start earlier while allowing three hits and a run on Aug. 25.
In eight starts with the Angels, he's posted a 3.50 earned run average after racking up a 4.60 ERA in 21 starts with Arizona to begin the season.
Lifetime against Cleveland, Haren is 2-2 in six starts.
For the Indians, right-hander Carlos Carrasco makes his second start of 2010 and seventh of his career while still seeking his first big-league win.
The 23-year-old Venezuelan made his season debut on Sept. 1 against the Chicago White Sox and got a no-decision in the Indians' 6-4 loss after surrendering six hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings.
He reached the majors with five starts last season and was 0-4 while posting an 8.87 ERA in 22 1/3 innings, giving up 40 hits and 23 runs.
Carrasco has never faced the Angels.
On Sunday in Seattle, Russell Branyan homered and drove in two runs to back eight scoreless innings by Felix Hernandez as the Mariners topped Cleveland, 3-0, in the last of four games between the clubs from Safeco Field.
Jeanmar Gomez (3-3) allowed seven hits and two runs over six full frames in defeat for the Indians, who have lost six of eight.
In Oakland, Bobby Abreu drove in three runs and scored three times as the Angels took down the Athletics, 7-4, to avoid a three-game sweep at the Oakland Coliseum.
Abreu and Mike Napoli each homered for Los Angeles, which ended a six-game road trip with a 3-3 mark. Hideki Matsui and Torii Hunter had an RBI apiece.
Ervin Santana (15-9) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over six innings to improve to 5-1 over his last six starts. The right-hander also walked four batters and fanned three.
The Angels took two of three at home over the Indians back in April and have won six of the last eight overall meetings.