(Sports Network) - The two best clubs in the American League West close out a three-game series tonight at Safeco Field, as the Seattle Mariners play the rubber match with the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Angels entered this key set with a four-game lead on Seattle in the standings and have maintained that cushion by splitting the first two games. After the Mariners came through with a 2-0 decision in the opener, Anaheim rebounded with an 8-0 rout on Tuesday.

John Lackey went the distance on a seven-hitter and Gary Matthews belted a pair of home runs as the Angels won for the fifth time in six games.

Lackey (13-6) walked three and struck out five while throwing 67 of his 106 pitches for strikes. It was the All-Star right-hander's sixth career shutout.

Matthews finished 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the offense, while Orlando Cabrera had three hits, including a solo homer, and knocked in four runs for the Angels.

Ex-Angel Jeff Weaver (2-10) was roughed up for six runs on seven hits with three walks in just four innings of work for the Mariners, who had a four-game winning streak stopped. Jose Vidro went 2-for-4 in the loss.

Seattle will attempt to gain ground tonight behind Felix Hernandez, who halted a personal two-start losing streak with an impressive performance on Friday.

Hernandez limited Oakland to one run on seven hits and struck out seven over seven innings in the Mariners' 7-1 victory. The 21-year-old rebounded from a rough outing in Toronto five days earlier in which he was rocked for six runs in six innings.

The native Venezuelan did struggle in a pair of starts against the Angels back in May, surrendering 10 runs over 9 2/3 combined innings in a loss and a no decision. Hernandez is 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA in six career starts versus Los Angeles.

The Angels counter with a talented young righty of their own tonight in Jered Weaver. The brother of last night's Seattle starter brings a 7-5 record and a 3.68 earned run average into tonight's tilt, but is coming off a shaky performance in his last start.

Weaver picked up a win over Detroit on Friday despite allowing six runs and a season-high 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. He had yielded two or less runs in five of his seven previous starts.

The 24-year-old is 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in four lifetime starts against Seattle. In his only appearance versus the Mariners in 2007, Weaver was touched for five runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in a no decision on May 30.

The Angels have won eight of 11 matchups against Seattle so far this season and are 16-5 in the last 21 games played in this series. Los Angeles took two of three games at Safeco Field back in May.