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LAA@OAK: Greinke tosses seven innings of one-run ball

It may have taken most of the season, but the Angels are finally clicking on all cylinders.

The Halos have won 10 of their last 11 games, and since Aug. 21 have a 14-3 record, which is tops in the Majors.

"It's about how you finish, obviously. That's the classic thing everybody says. But the season's not over today, it's not over tomorrow," Angels starter C.J. Wilson said. "We still have a couple of weeks where we have to continue to play like this in order to get where we want to get. Texas is not slowing down, and neither are any of these other teams that we're chasing."

The Angels will try to keep their current surge going on Sunday as they look for a three-game sweep of the Tigers at Angel Stadium. They currently sit two games back of the second spot in the American League Wild Card.

Zack Greinke will take the hill for the Angels, ready to continue his recent success. While he had a 7.20 ERA in his first four August starts, the right-hander has a 1.66 ERA in last three starts, all of which have been wins.

Last time out against the A's, he tossed seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits for his 13th win of the season, reversing an earlier loss to Oakland.

"The last three are how I want to pitch," Greinke said. "I've just been trying to pitch like normal, I guess. I got a little messed up. The Oakland game here [before], I was throwing all sinkers, and that's not really my game. And then I was trying to throw too hard the next two starts. So I just kind of went back to normal and it's worked out good, so far."

Meanwhile, Anibal Sanchez will be on the mound for the Tigers. With a 5-1 loss on Saturday, the Tigers are currently two games back of the White Sox in the AL Central.

While he's 1-1 in his past three starts, Sanchez has pitched well for Detroit, allowing just two earned runs in 19 2/3 innings for a 0.92 ERA.

On Monday against the Indians, he allowed two runs (zero earned) on eight hits in a no-decision.

Tigers: Raburn gets start
• Ryan Raburn got his first start in over a month on Saturday against Wilson after missing all of August with a right thumb sprain. The left fielder finished the game going 0-for-3.

Raburn did pinch-hit for Ramon Santiago in the seventh inning during Friday's game, grounding out softly to the pitcher. It marked his first plate appearance since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 1.

"He's got an outstanding arm in the outfield," manager Jim Leyland said. "He runs OK. He's got power. He can hit a three-run homer."

Avisail Garcia also got the start in right field, just his third career start, and Danny Worth got the nod at shortstop.

Angels: Trumbo takes a seat on bench
• With his struggles at the plate continuing to mount, Mark Trumbo was out of the Angels starting lineup for Saturday's game. Vernon Wells started in Trumbo's place.

While Trumbo still leads the team with 30 home runs, he has just one hit, 11 strikeouts and no walks in 19 plate appearances in September.

"We're in the middle of a pennant race," Trumbo said Saturday. "There's no time for feelings now. I've always kind of been that way. I enjoy playing, being out there, but I totally understand. I'll definitely fight for the opportunities that I have, but I'm not going to be outspoken. I just haven't been getting it done."

Since being named the full-time cleanup hitter on July 17, Trumbo has batted .200 with five homers and 67 strikeouts in 175 at-bats, putting his batting average at .269 and his slugging percentage at .503.

Worth noting
• Angels starter Jered Weaver played catch from about 90 feet on Saturday as he continues to fight through tendinitis in his right arm. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the session went "really good" and was "encouraging."

• Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is batting .347 with 30 doubles, 28 home runs and 94 RBIs over his last 107 games dating back to May 10. That puts him within the top five in the American League in each category.

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