"We taolked about it for the last couple of weeks," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Right now we're in a lull. We're not driving the ball like we did earlier in the year. We're not setting the table and when we do set teh table we're not getting the situational hitting. This thing will turn around.

"We're very capable of scoring 10 runs like we did this week against the White Sox. But we need that consistency, getting two runners on every inning, pushing the envelope. We can't do things we like to do in our running game because we haven't set the table like we like to."

Injuries to Figgins and Howie Kendrick (strained left hamstring) have hurt offensive chemistry. Consistent run scoring has been a problem of late.

"Well, if you look at the numbers with runners in scoring position, early Figgy was a big part of seeting the table," Scioscia said before Saturday's game. "Some of those numbers have maybe become a little stagnant in the last couple of weeks. But it's not just Figgy, it's a lot of the guys.

"You certainly have to be deep enough to absorb 2-3 guys at various times that are going to be out for awhile during the season. I think what we've experienced the last couple weeks is not only having guys out of the lineup, but guys not swinging the bats to their capabilities. So we haven't been setting the table as well as we could.

"Even with these guys out of the lineup, we have a good offensive team. We haven't performed to the level we need to, I'm sure there's some important roles for guys who have been out, but I think the lion's share of it is some of the guys we know are going to swing the bat well haven't hit stride yet and that's impacting our offense."

Santana is seeking to become just the third Angels pitcther to start a season with a 7-0 record. Jered Weaver did it in 2006m eventually taking his record to 9-0. Aaron Sele opened 2004 with a 7-0 mark.

Manager Mike Scioscia was asked before Tuesday's game if Izturis was having any problems while batting form the right side of the plate, which had previously been bothering him

"He's OK," Scioscia said. "He hit right-handed (Monday) night (in a rehab start at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga) and felt fine. I think we're going to use him (Wednesday) from the left side against (White Sox starter Jose) Contreras. We might use him at some point tonight but I think we'll let Sean start and see how it goes."

In his career, Quinlan is batting an easy .409 against Buehrle (9 hits in 22 at-bats) with two doubles, three home runs and five RBI. And that doesn't even include the home run Quinlan hit off Buehrle in Game 2 of the 2005 American League Championship Series. So look for Quinlan at first base or third base tonight. If they could, you'd think the Angels would have him play both positions just to get more at-bats.

Triple-A Salt Lake INF Matt Brown was named the Player of the Month after batting .426 (43/101) with 25 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 22 RBI in 23 games; RHP Mason Tobin, who was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (15 IP - 0 ER) and one complete game shutout, eight hits, three walks and eight strikeouts in three starts for single-A Cedar Rapids, was named Pitcher of the Month; and triple-A Salt Lake OF Brad Coon was named Defensive Player of the Month, after committing no errors in 57 total chances (55 PO/2 A) in 21 games.

Best starts in team history after 35 games
2004 23-12
1970 23-12
1995 22-13
1989 22-13
1982 22-13

After 36 games
2004 24-12
1970 24-12
1989 23-13
1982 23-13
1995 22-14

All STARTING Pitching Duos That Started a Season 6-0 or Better, Since 1920

(record listed is when both were undefeated at the latest date; one might have had a longer streak after the other first lost)

THRU

1920 5/12 Cleveland Indians: Stan Coveleski 7-0 Jim Bagby 6-0

1946 5/26 Boston Red Sox: Boo Ferriss 7-0 Mickey Harris 7-0

1953 6/14 New York Yankees: Whitey Ford 7-0 Ed Lopat 7-0

1981 5/17 Los Angeles Dodgers: Burt Hooton 6-0 Fernando Valenzuela 8-0

1988 5/27 Houston Astros: Bob Knepper 6-0 Mike Scott 6-0

2001 6/08 Seattle Mariners: Freddy Garcia 6-0 Aaron Sele 8-0

2002 6/07 Boston Red Sox: Pedro Martinez 7-0 John Burkett 7-0

further research reveals this is only the second time in MLB history to
pitchers on one team went 5-0 in April


* Joe Saunders lifted his record to 5-0 in the Angels' win over
the Athletics Tuesday, and Ervin Santana did the same Wednesday. The
only other team in major-league history with two pitchers who won five
or more games without a loss during April was the 1998 Rangers: Aaron
Sele and Rick Helling, both went 5-0.

On Tuesday, the Angels scored their two runs in the third inning on just one hit.

Before play Tuesday, Brown was tearing up the Pacific Coast League with a .426 batting average in 101 at-bats. He had six home runs and 22 RBI.