Texas Rangers (61-93) at LA Angels of Anaheim (96-59), 3:35 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim showed a formula on Saturday night that could take them deep into the playoffs.
The Angels continue to get into postseason form on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers.
Behind the bats of some of their top stars and the arm of their ace, the Angels bested the Rangers 8-5 last night, snapping Texas' season-high seven- game winning streak.
David Freese hit a three-run homer and both Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit two-run shots for the Angels, who had lost four of six coming in as they hold the top seed in the American League.
Jered Weaver yielded three runs and struck out seven over seven-plus innings to win his 18th start of the year.
"It's fun playing behind Weaver because he gives us a chance every time he's out there," noted Trout.
Adrian Beltre hit three doubles and drove in two runs for the Rangers, while Colby Lewis gave up eight runs -- seven earned -- on nine hits in five innings of work.
"Colby couldn't keep the ball down and when he left it over the plate they didn't miss it," said Texas interim manager Tim Bogar.
The Angels turn to Cory Rasmus, who makes his fifth start in place of the injured Garrett Richards.
Rasmus has been solid in his starts, though isn't stretched out to go deep into games. He hurled four scoreless innings of one-hit ball versus Seattle on Tuesday, but the rest of the bullpen struggled in an eventual 13-2 loss.
"Cory did exactly what we wanted him to (but) he was gassed," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Rasmus.
The right-handed Rasmus is 3-1 with a 2.57 earned run average in 28 appearances this year, including the four starts, and has a lifetime 4.50 ERA without a decision in seven career meetings with Texas.
That includes one start that came on Sept. 11 and he scattered a run and two hits over 3 1/3 frames.
Texas counters with Nick Tepesch, who won for the first time since Aug. 6 on Tuesday with a 6-3 decision over Oakland. He was charged with three runs, but only one was earned over his six innings of work as he snapped a three- decision skid.
The right-hander is 5-10 with a 4.32 ERA on the year and 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in four previous starts versus the Angels.
The Angels have won 14 of 18 against the Rangers this season.