The Angels are coming off a dramatic, come from behind win Monday night when Torii Hunter hit the second of his two home runs to put the Angels ahead for good. The two-run blast in the ninth was his 1,000th career RBI. Four of Hunter's eight home runs this season have been against the Royals.
Joel Pineiro looks to bounce back from his first loss of the season when he and the Angels (29-27) face Kansas City (23-30) tonight at Kauffman Stadium in the second game of their 3-game series. Pineiro will be trying for his 100th career win -- something that has eluded him in his previous 3 attempts. In his last 2 starts, Pineiro (2-1, 3.15 ERA) has had almost the identical results, which haven't been good. In both games the right-hander went 6.1 innings, giving up four runs on 11 hits. In his career against the Royals, Pineiro has gone 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA. He split his two 2010 starts, compiling a 3.15 ERA in 15 innings.
Although the Angels remain a game behind the division leading Texas Rangers, they have won 7 of 11 since losing 5 straight earlier this month and are 3-1 on their current 6-game road trip.
Kansas City will send Jeff Francis (1-5, 4.52 ERA) to the mound. The left-hander has allowed at least 5 runs in four of his last 7 starts. In his last outing, Francis gave up 5 runs in 6 innings on 9 hits, including two home runs, against the Baltimore Orioles. In his first start of the 2011 season, Francis held the Angels to one run on 5 hits over 7 innings.
Who's Hot - Last 7 Games:
Bobby Abreu - 9 for his last 28 (.321), 3 2B
Erick Aybar - 9 for his last 28 (.321), 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Alberto Callaspo - 9 for his last 24 (.375), 1 HR, 3 RBI
Torii Hunter - 9 for his last 28 (.321), 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI
Billy Butler- 10 for his last 30 (.333)
Alex Gordon - 9 for his last 33 (.273), 3 2B, 3 HR
Melky Cabrera - 9 for his last 31 (.290), 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Who's Cold - Last 7 Games:
Alexi Amarista - 2 for his last 12 (.167)
Hank Conger - 3 for his last 17 (.176)
Mike Aviles- 2 for his last 13 (.154)
Alcides Escobar- 3 for his last 22 (.136)
Jeff Francoeur - 6 for his last 28 (.214), 7 K
Game time is 5:05 (PDT) and will be show in Fox Sports West. For more Angels' news, be sure to check out Halos Heaven.