Kennedy hopes to find win column against Angels

Ian Kennedy tries to find his way back into the win column this afternoon when the Arizona Diamondbacks wrap up a three-game interleague set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

Kennedy had his two-start winning streak stopped his last time out in Texas, as the Rangers reached him for six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, dropping him to 5-6 on the season to go along with a 4.32 ERA.

Kennedy has faced the Angels twice (1 start) and is 0-1 against them, allowing five runs in just three innings.

Los Angeles will counter with righty Garrett Richards, who will be making his third start in place of the injured Jered Weaver. Richards did not get a decision on Monday against the Dodgers, as he surrendered two runs (1 earned) and five hits with five walks in five frames. He had given up just a run in seven innings to beat Seattle in his first start.

Richards, who is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA, has never faced the Diamondbacks.

The Angels can only hope Richards gives them the same type of effort that Ervin Santana did on Saturday in their 2-0 win.

Santana (4-7) was perfect through six innings and got the first two outs of the seventh before Justin Upton punched a single up the middle to break up the bid. It was the only hit he would give up in his first shutout of the season.

"My last bullpen session was good and I brought it to the game," said Santana. "I made adjustments in my fastball command. When I passed six innings, you think about it a little bit. The pitch Upton hit was a fastball down and away, he hit a good pitch."

Mark Trumbo's two-run home run in the first inning accounted for all the offense in the game while Torii Hunter went 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Angels, who have won six of their last eight.

Joe Saunders (4-5) pitched well but suffered the loss as he gave up two runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts over six innings for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped three of five.

"Joe pitched great and he battled his butt off," said Arizona manager Kirk Gibson. "He just made one mistake and gave us a chance to win. When Ervin settled in, he made all this pitches. Give him credit, he threw a great game."

The Angels swept Arizona the last time these teams met back in 2009, but this is the Diamondbacks' first trip to Angel Stadium since 2001.