Arlington, TX (My Sportsbook) - The Anaheim Angels will attempt to put an end to their four-game losing streak and finally register secure the AL wild card this afternoon, when they finish up a three-game set against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Anaheim has misfired on four tries at nailing down a postseason slot after a 4-3 defeat on Wednesday. The Angels have dropped seven of their last nine overall and must win once in their final four games or have Seattle suffer a loss to capture the wild card.

Scott Schoeneweis (9-8) absorbed the loss after giving up the homer to Rafael Palmeiro. Angels starter Ramon Ortiz allowed two runs in six innings of work.

Troy Glaus hit a homer and Benji Gil added two hits for the Angels in the losing effort.

Rudy Seanez (1-3) collected the victory with a scoreless inning in relief of Texas starter Kenny Rogers, who yielded two runs in seven innings of work. Francisco Cordero allowed a run in the ninth inning, but held on to record his 10th save of the season.

Palmeiro hit a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Rangers to the win. Hank Blalock and Alex Rodriguez added back-to-back homers for the Rangers, who have won consecutive games for the first time since a four-game winning streak from September 10-12.

Anaheim will send 23-year-old righthander John Lackey to the mound this afternoon. Lackey dropped his last start, allowing six hits and six runs -- two earned -- over 4 2/3 innings against Seattle. The youngster fanned five and walked two in the losing effort.

Lackey took the loss in his only career outing against Texas, allowing six hits and three earned runs over seven frames.

Lackey has been solid on the road this year, tallying a 4-3 mark with a 3.61 ERA in nine contests.

Texas will reply by handing the ball to 23-year-old Colby Lewis this afternoon. Lewis hasn't posted a decision in his last two outings, including a decent effort against Oakland last week. The young twirler allowed six hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings, while walking six and fanning five.

Lewis has appeared in just one game against Anaheim in his career, allowing one hit and one run over one inning. The righthander has been decent at home this season, going 1-1 with a 6.46 ERA.

Anaheim has dominated this series in 2002, winning 11-of-18 contests. Texas owns a slight 19-18 advantage over the Angels since the start of the 2001 campaign.

Anaheim is 44-36 on the road and 27-27 versus the West, while the Rangers are 42-35 at home and just 20-34 within the division.