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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jered Weaver was a late addition to the AL All-Star team last season because of a newly instituted rule that prevented pitchers who started the previous Sunday from being allowed to play in the game. But instead of filling in for CC Sabathia and Trevor Cahill, Weaver also was declared ineligible because of an embarrassing oversight by AL manager Joe Girardi -- who wasn't aware that Weaver had pitched against Cahill. That won't be an issue this time around, and Weaver won't be an afterthought, either. Not with a major league-best 1.92 ERA and a 10-4 record with one start left before the break. Saturday night, the Angels' ace got a measure of payback against Clayton Kershaw six days after a tough-luck loss in their previous matchup, and Vernon Wells homered to lead Los Angeles to a 7-1 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday night. "I'm focused regardless of who's out there," Weaver said. "I'm not going up against the other pitcher. I'm going up against the other team. But you know it's going to be a battle when you go up against a guy like that because there might not be a lot of runs scored. Tonight the guys hit him around a little bit." If Weaver does get the starting assignment when the All-Stars converge in Phoenix on July 12, he would become the fifth Angels pitcher to do so in the franchise's 51-year history. That list includes Ken McBride (1963), Dean Chance (1964), Nolan Ryan (1979) and Mark Langston (1993). "It would be a great thing, but I'm not really worried about that right now," Weaver said. "There's been a lot of talk about it, and I've gotten hyped up about it before. If it happens, it happens. We've got some things to concentrate on before any of that goes on, and that's winning ballgames." Weaver won his fourth straight decision over six starts, allowing a run and four hits through eight innings with eight strikeouts and two walks. Last season's major league strikeout leader gave up his only run in the fifth on Trent Oeltjen's sacrifice fly. Kershaw (8-4) was charged with a season-high seven runs -- six earned -- and nine hits in six innings with 10 strikeouts. It was the first time in the left-hander's four-year career that he has reached double digits in strikeouts for three consecutive starts, and he increased his season total to an NL-leading 138 -- seven more than Philadelphia's Roy Halladay. Kershaw struck out the side on 15 pitches in the fifth, but that was after the Angels had staked Weaver to a 6-1 lead. The Dodgers' ace was 6-0 with a 2.64 ERA in 11 starts since his previous loss on April 26 at Florida. "The guys came out and did a heck of a job tonight and got to one of the best pitchers in the game," Weaver said. "Anytime you get a six-run lead, it takes a lot of pressure off me." This was the third time Weaver and Kershaw have hooked up in their young careers. Last Sunday at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 11 in a complete-game 3-2 victory, while Weaver gave up a run and seven hits over seven innings with four strikeouts in a no-decision. On May 22, 2009, the Angels won 3-1 with each pitcher allowing one run and getting a no-decision. "I think Kersh likes getting a matchup like Weaver -- or (Justin) Verlander if it's Detroit, or (Tim) Lincecum if it's San Francisco, if it's any one of those guys in Philly. I think he likes that challenge," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. The Angels grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third after No. 9 hitter Jeff Mathis led off with a double. He scored from third when rookie shortstop Dee Gordon tried for the out at the plate on a fielder's choice grounder by Erick Aybar and threw the ball over Dioner Navarro's head. One out later, Wells drove a 2-0 pitch to left field for his 12th homer and seventh in 17 games. He also homered against Kershaw the last time the Dodgers' ace faced the Angels. The Angels made it 6-0 in the fourth with Aybar's two-out RBI single and a two-run single by Bobby Abreu. Right fielder Torii Hunter did not play because of a bruised left hand, which occurred when he was hit by a pitch from Hiroki Kuroda in the second inning of Saturday's 5-0 loss. Game notes
The Angels are averaging 38,775 in attendance through their first 40 home dates. The Dodgers are averaging 36,084 through 43 home dates. The Halos have never finished a season with a higher home attendance total than their Southern California rivals. ... A ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Garret Anderson, who helped the Angels win Game 7 of the 2002 World Series with a tiebreaking three-run double against San Francisco. The 17-year veteran remains the franchise's career leader in games, hits, RBIs, runs scored, total bases, extra-base hits, and at-bats. He spent his final big league season with the Dodgers last year. ... Mike Scioscia's 131st interleague victory as a manager tied Joe Torre's record. Sunday's series finale ends the Angels' slate against NL clubs.
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