Angels aim for sweep of Twins

Jered Weaver tries to pitch the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to their first sweep of the season this evening when they close out a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium.

Weaver has been terrific this season for the Halos, posting a 3-0 mark to go along with a 2.02 earned run average. However, Weaver wasn't sharp against the Twins back on April 11 when he gave up five runs in six innings of a no- decision.

That wasn't the case the last time he took the rubber, though, as Weaver struck out eight and blanked the Cleveland Indians for six innings. However, he walked a season-high four batters and did not factor in the decision of his team's 3-2 loss.

Weaver, who has not given up a run in three of his five starts this season, will be trying to match Jerome Williams' brilliant effort from Tuesday, as the veteran right-hander twirled his second career shutout in the Angels' 4-0 win.

"I just went out there and pitched. I didn't even realize what was going on until the ninth inning," said Williams.

Williams (2-1) scattered just three hits and one walk, struck out six and retired 17 batters in a row before walking Denard Span with two down in the ninth. The 30-year-old then fanned Alexi Casilla to notch his first shutout since 2003.

"It was fun to go out there and perform," Williams continued. "I've learned how to get people out."

Howie Kendrick finished a double shy of the cycle and Torii Hunter added a solo homer and an RBI single for the Angels, who have won three of four and will shoot for their first home sweep of the Twins since 2007 tonight.

The Angels, though, have yet to win three straight games this season and Albert Pujols continues to struggle. After another 0-for-4 showing, the three- time NL MVP is now hitting .208.

Francisco Liriano (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Twins, who fell to 6-17 on the season.

"(Liriano) wasn't that bad," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "He gave up two early homers but I was happy with the way he threw the baseball."

Denard Span did extend his hitting streak to 12 games in the loss.

Getting the call for the Twins tonight will be righty Liam Hendriks, who is 0-1 with a 6.89 ERA. Hendriks absorbed the loss last Wednesday against Boston, as he allowed seven runs and nine hits in just four innings.

"I think I just gave the guys too much credit," said Hendriks. "I was trying to trick them a little bit too much and not play with my strengths of panning the zone."

He has never faced the Angels.

Minnesota took two of three from the Angels earlier in the year after LA captured six of the nine meetings in 2011.