(Sports Network) - New owners of the best record in baseball this season, the Los Angeles Angels will try to maintain that distinction as they go for a second straight win over the Texas Rangers this afternoon at Angel Stadium.

The Angels improved to 80-54 overall after coming through with a 7-6, 10- inning victory over Texas in Friday's opener of this three-game series. With Boston's loss to Baltimore last night, Anaheim moved a half game in front of the Red Sox for the majors' top mark.

Howie Kendrick's infield single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th plated Garret Anderson with the winning run and gave Anaheim its fifth consecutive victory. The triumph also extended the Angels' lead atop the American League West to 6 1/2 games over fading Seattle, which lost to Toronto on Friday.

Kendrick added a two-run double in the game and Anderson clubbed his 11th homer of the season -- a two-run shot in the fifth -- for the Angels, who overcame a blown save from closer Francisco Rodriguez to earn their ninth win in 12 games.

Texas tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the ninth when Michael Young reached on an infield single off Rodriguez, stole second, and scored on Sammy Sosa's bloop base hit.

Young ended 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Rangers, who had a five-game win streak halted. Ian Kinsler also collected three hits and knocked in a run, while Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer in the eighth which pulled Texas within 6-5.

Kelvim Escobar will attempt to extend a string of 10 consecutive quality starts when the veteran standout takes the hill for the Angels this afternoon.

The right-hander won his fourth straight outing by dominating his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, last Sunday at Angel Stadium. Escobar limited the Jays to one run and six hits and did not issue a walk in his eight-inning stint.

Over the course of his 10-start streak, Escobar has posted a 6-3 record with a 2.01 ERA. His 2.77 ERA for the season trails only Oakland's Dan Haren for tops in the AL.

The native Venezuelan has also fared well when facing Texas this year, having compiled a 2-0 mark with a 1.77 ERA in three previous 2007 starts against the Rangers. Escobar is just 4-8 with a 4.01 ERA over his 32 career games (14 starts) versus Texas, however.

Edinson Volquez will make his first major league start for the Rangers since he lasted just three innings in a loss to the Angels in Anaheim on September 25 of last year. The 24-year-old Dominican allowed five runs and nine hits before exiting.

That was one of many struggles for Volquez at the big league level. He appeared in 14 games, including 11 starts, for Texas over the previous two seasons and went 1-10 with a brutal 9.20 ERA over 46 total innings. In four appearances (two starts) against Anaheim, Volquez is 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA.

However, the young righty has pitched well in Triple-A Oklahoma this year, posting a 6-1 record with a sparkling 1.41 ERA in eight starts for the RedHawks.

The Angels have won 10 of their 14 matchups with the Rangers this season, including six of the seven games played in Anaheim. Texas is just 6-20 at Angel Stadium since the start of the 2005 campaign.