(Sports Network) - Joe Saunders will try to become the AL's first 13-game winner today, as he leads the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim into action against the Boston Red Sox in the second of a three-game series at Angel Stadium.

Jon Garland was slated to start today's game for the Angels, but his turn was pushed back a day after he woke with a stiff neck on Thursday, giving Saunders a chance to join Arizona's Brandon Webb as the major league's only 13-game winners.

Saunders, who recently participated in the All-Star game, has fared well against Boston in his career, posting a 3-0 mark with a 2.92 ERA in four starts. On April 24, the left-hander limited to the Red Sox to three earned runs over six innings of a 7-5 triumph at Fenway Park.

In his last start on July 8, Saunders was defeated by the Texas Rangers despite allowing just three earned runs and six hits over eight solid innings. He struck out five in the 3-2 setback.

Getting the nod for Boston will be Josh Beckett, who has won two straight starts despite allowing a total of eight earned runs during that stretch. In an 18-5 romp of the Minnesota Twins on July 9, the right-hander gave up five earned runs and eight hits over five innings of work.

Beckett, the only 20-game winner in the majors in 2007, has owned the Angels in his career, going 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in five starts, including the postseason.

The Red Sox are hoping that Beckett can help them rebound from Friday's performance, when they were rocked 11-3 by the Angels.

John Lackey was solid in seven innings and Garret Anderson went 4-for-4 with five runs driven in the victory for the LA Angels of Anaheim. Lackey (7-2) allowed just three runs on five hits while walking two. Lackey also fanned six batters, giving him 1,004 K's for his career.

Maicer Izturis and Howie Kendrick each recorded two RBI for the Angels, who have won three in a row. Vladimir Guerrero also added an RBI in the win.

Clay Buchholz (2-5) took the loss as he surrendered eight runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.

Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run home run and Manny Ramirez had a solo shot for the Red Sox, who are 5-2 over their last seven contests and have dropped 8- of-10 road games to fall a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East.

The Angels took two of three from the Red Sox when these clubs clashed at Fenway Park from April 22-24. It was a small measure of revenge for Los Angeles, which lost six of 10 against Boston last year before getting swept in the 2007 ALDS by the eventual world champs.