DAILY HALOLINKS: John Lackey To Face Ace

Up next for Angels: Saturday at Kansas City -- latimes.com
John Lackey vs. Zack Greinke

Angels come to grips just in time to win -- latimes.com
It didn't matter that the Angels were outhit, 11-3, and needed a chunk of charity from the Royals, who issued eight walks in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, to mount any scoring threats. Or that they've scored three runs in 29 innings. "All that matters is the win, and we're going to take them any way we can get them," said Jered Weaver, who gave up one run and nine hits in seven innings to improve to 14-5. "This time of year, every win is important."

Angels-Royals Preview - FOX Sports on MSN
John Lackey (9-7, 3.92) will get the start for Los Angeles, trying to follow a solid performance by Jered Weaver. Lackey was effective in winning his last outing, limiting Oakland to one run and five hits in eight innings of a 9-1 victory - making him the fifth Angels pitcher with 100 wins. The right-hander, though, is more concerned about making a final playoff push than personal accolades. "Hopefully we can keep getting some runs and take it into the final weeks that way," said Lackey, who was a rookie on the Angels team that won the World Series in 2002. "You've got to be playing your best baseball at the right time. Several guys on that '02 team will tell you we might not have been the best team, but we were hot."

Figgins & Co. take second crack at Zack - angelsbaseball.com
The Royals' Zack Greinke is leading the American League with a 2.32 ERA. He also leads the lead with six complete games, including three shutouts.

Team Reports - CBSSports.com
With Jered Weaver's performance Friday, Angels starting pitchers have allowed just five runs (only three earned) in 40 1/3 innings over their past six games. Weaver has allowed just one of those runs in two starts during that stretch.

Team Reports II - CBSSports.com
"It's been a frustrating stretch for us the last couple games," Scioscia said. "I think guys understand what's important is how we're playing the game. These guys all know we're not going to be on every night. Sometimes less is more and their swings might be getting a little big, trying to do too much."

Some video highlights from last night's game:

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips 09.04.09: Angels rally to beat the Royals - angelsbaseball.com
Daily Recap: The Angels drew four walks in the eighth inning and a Vladimir Guerrero two-run single gave the Angels a come-from-behind win

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips - Vlad's two-run single puts the Angels on top - -angelsbaseball.com
Vladimir Guerrero singles to left to plate two runs and put the Halos ahead in the eighth

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips - Weaver hurls seven innings of one-run ball - angelsbaseball.com
Jered Weaver limits the Royals to one run in seven innings, striking out six

Angels mourn Blattner - PE.com
The Angels on Friday mourned the passing of one of their first team broadcasters, Buddy Blattner, who passed away in Missouri at the age of 89.

Angels may have gotten Scott Kazmir from Rays at right time - Tom Verducci - SI.com
After a couple of mechanical tuneup sessions with Peterson -- one throwing to Peterson's son at a high school field in New Jersey and the other at a yoga studio in New York -- Kazmir began to regain his form. When Kazmir returned to the Rays, president Andrew Friedman remarked, "I've never seen his changeup like this."

Implications of the Scott Kazmir Trade on the AL West - Athletics Nation
Last week, the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays completed a trade sending former ace Scott Kazmir to the Angles for Alex Torres, Matt Sweeney, and a player to be named later. The player to be named later was supposedly a significant piece and the PTBNL was Sean Rodriguez who recently moved to the Rays roster. This trade has serious implications on the Angels and the AL West.

Good write up from one of our rivals.

Figgins remains top '10 target - FOX Sports on MSN
There's only one offseason target on Williams' radar. The money off the books in losing Jim Thome, Jose Contreras, Octavio Dotel as well as possibly Jermaine Dye and Jenks not only covers the losses in '09 and the additions of Peavy and Rios, but allows Williams one big-ticket item. In this case, a speedy-ticket item. Chone Figgins, come on down!

Looks like the Angels will have some competition in re-signing Figgins.

St. Louis Cardinals fan feels uplifted after fall - STLtoday.com
He lay on his back in the dirt of the Pittsburgh ballpark. His neck hurt. Striking his face on the crushed rock along the first-base side felt like breaking through glass. He was bloodied. And the foul ball was gone. He had missed it, missed his one chance to grab a game ball for his son on the boy's 21st birthday.

Your "feel good story" of the day.  Albert Pujols is pretty cool.

September 5 - BR Bullpen
# Events, births and deaths that occurred on September 5.
1961 - Los Angeles's Lee Thomas ties the major-league record with nine hits in a doubleheader, five in the first game and 4, including three home runs, in the 2nd. Thomas ties the American League record with 19 total bases in a doubleheader. But Kansas City wins both games from the Angels, 7 - 3 and 13 - 12.
2002 - Anaheim beats Tampa Bay, 10 - 1, as OF Garret Anderson homers twice and drives home seven runs.