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BAL@LAA: Weaver spins three-hit gem for his 10th win

The last time Angels ace Jered Weaver faced the Yankees, he left the game after throwing just 12 pitches and was sidelined for 20 games with a lower back strain.

But in four starts since coming off the disabled list, the right-hander has been nearly unhittable. He has won each of the four starts, allowing just a single run in 27 2/3 innings. He has lowered his ERA from 2.61 the last time he faced the Yankees to an American League-best 1.96.

Against the Orioles in his last start before the All-Star break, Weaver (10-1) went eight shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk. He pitched a scoreless inning in Tuesday's Midsummer Classic, as well.

"I don't know if you can ask Jered to do anything else," manager Mike Scioscia said after Weaver's last start. "If he didn't miss those couple starts, who knows where his numbers would be this half, but he gives us good game after good game, and gives us a chance to win."

Going up against the AL's top pitcher will be Yankees starter Ivan Nova. The right-hander earned the win despite allowing five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings in his first start against the Angels this season on May 30. He is 3-1 in his four career starts against the Angels with a 5.11 ERA.

In his last start before the All-Star break, Nova (10-3) tossed six innings against the Red Sox, allowing one run on six hits while striking out 10. The total was the most he'd struck out since he fanned 12 Reds batters on May 19.

"Now I'm looking for 10 more [wins]," he said following his last start. "It's really a good first half, not only for me, but for the team, too."

Angels: Hunter out of Saturday's game as a precaution
Angels right fielder Torii Hunter didn't play in Saturday's loss to the Yankees because of a tight groin he suffered while running after Russell Martin's go-ahead single in Friday night's 6-5 loss. Hunter is listed as day to day, but Scioscia said it "doesn't look like it's anything to worry about."

• With two more stolen bases in Saturday's game, Angels' rookie Mike Trout padded his league-leading total to 30 on the season. It was his ninth game this season with two or more stolen bases in a game, and he has swiped four bags in this series against the Yankees alone. He has stolen 21 consecutive bases without being caught.

Yankees: Granderson's increased power coming with more strikeouts
With a homer in Saturday's win against the Angels, center fielder Curtis Granderson now has 24 homers on the season. He's on pace to hit more than 40 home runs for the second straight year.

But while Granderson's home run totals are increasing, so are his strikeouts. In 2011, Granderson struck out 169 times, the second-highest total of his career. In 2012, he already has 101, including three so far this series.

Though the strikeouts are increasing, manager Joe Girardi said he sees it as a mere trade-off for the increased power and production.

"You try to understand what your player is, and you understand that everything's not going to be perfect," Girardi said. "I look at an out as an out. You don't want guys to always strike out, but sometimes you hit into double plays where a strikeout might be more productive, in a sense. So I don't get too concerned about it."

Worth noting
• The Yankees' win in Saturday's ballgame was their second straight to start the second half of the season and third in a row against the Angels. It increased their record against the Halos to 5-3 this year.

• In their last 22 games in New York (including the postseason), the Angels are 5-17 against the Yankees and are just 5-15 in new Yankee Stadium. The Angels have lost six of their last eight road games overall.

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