Erick Aybar getting Angels started

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Last year Erick Aybar struggled in the leadoff spot and the Angel offense struggled along with him.

Not so this year -- and especially this month.

Baltimore’s Adam Jones is the only player in baseball with more hits in May than Aybar, who begins the Angels’ seven-game, three-city road trip Friday batting .340 with 17 hits this month. And Aybar, who is riding a career-high 10-game hitting streak, is batting .345 in the leadoff role -- which is where he was again Friday against the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers will start unbeaten right-hander Alexi Ogando, who is 3-0 with a 2.17 earned-run average in six starts. The Angels will counter with right-hander Jered Weaver (6-1, 1.87) who has already beaten the Rangers once this season.

The lineups (click on thread)

Angels

SS -- Erick Aybar

DH -- Bobby Abreu

2B -- Maicer Izturis

RF -- Torii Hunter

LF -- Howie Kendrick

3B -- Alberto Callaspo

C -- Hank Conger

1B -- Mark Trumbo

CF -- Peter Bourjos

P -- Jered Weaver

Texas Rangers

CF -- Julio Borbon

SS -- Elvis Andrus

2B -- Ian Kinsler

1B -- Michael Young

RF -- Mitch Moreland

3B -- Adrian Beltre

LF -- David Murphy

DH -- Mike Napoli

C -- Yorvit Torrealba

P -- Alexi Ogando

ALSO:

Pitching and defense keep Angels in the game

Angels are better prepared to play without Kendrys Morales

-- Kevin Baxter in Arlington, Texas