ANGELS / THE WEEK AHEAD

TODAY-WEDNESDAY AT SAN FRANCISCO

Schedule: 1 p.m. today; 12:30 p.m. Wednesday

* Television: Channel 9 today, Channel 52 Wednesday

* Radio: KLAC (570 AM), XPRS (1090) each game

* Pitching matchups: Steve Sparks (2-4, 5.63 ERA) vs. Shawn Estes (2-4, 5.75) today; Tim Belcher (3-5, 7.23) vs. Chris Brock (5-4, 4.34) Wednesday.

* Last year’s series: Former Angel first baseman J.T. Snow was five of 13 with two home runs and five RBIs, as the Giants won two of three games last season. He hit both home runs in a 7-4 victory July 2.

* About the Giants: They have kept pace with first-place Arizona and trail by two games, despite not have Barry Bonds. He has missed 44 games after elbow surgery. Snow and second baseman Jeff Kent are tied for the team lead with 34 RBIs.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY VS. ARIZONA

* Schedule: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5 p.m. Sunday

* Television: Fox Sports West Friday and Saturday

* Radio: KLAC (570), XPRS (1090) all three games

* Last year’s series: The Angels won two of three games, but the Diamondbacks now have Randy Johnson. He is 14-6 with a 2.70 ERA lifetime against the Angels.

* About the Diamondbacks: Arizona spent a lot of money during the off-season and, unlike the Dodgers and Angels, it appears to have paid off. The Diamondbacks are in first place, having won eight of their last 11 games.

HISTORY LESSON

A look back at this week in Angel history:

June 9, 1961: Pitcher Ryne Duren, in the second game of a doubleheader at Boston, sets an AL record by striking out seven consecutive batters in the Angels’ 5-1 victory.

June 14, 1974: Nolan Ryan, above, sets a club record for most strikeouts with 19 in 13 innings against Boston. The Angels win in 15 innings, 4-3.

June 12, 1977: Joe Rudi drives in five runs with two home runs in an 11-4 victory over Cleveland. After an off-day, Rudi repeats the feat, hitting two homers and driving in five during a 12-9 victory at Minnesota.

June 13, 1998: The Angels pound a club-record eight doubles in an 18-6 victory at Texas.

Source: Angel records