Saunders struggles in Texas

It would be one thing if Joe Saunders couldn’t win in a National League park, where the Angels rarely visit, or an American League East or Central stadium, where the Angels go once or twice a year.

But the park that has given the left-hander the most trouble is the home of the Texas Rangers, a place the Angels make three trips a year to and where Saunders is 0-4 with a 10.29 earned-run average.

“I have to figure it out, because it’s not like I’m not going to get another crack at them in this ballpark,” said Saunders, who was rocked for seven runs and eight hits, including three homers, in a 10-8 loss Friday night.

“I don’t blame the park; I blame myself. Every pitcher has a park that doesn’t agree with them, but I have to dig down deep when I pitch here, do whatever it takes to win.”

Saunders thought he did that here last July 8, when he threw a complete game against the Rangers, but the Angels lost, 3-2. That was Saunders’ last road loss -- he was 7-0 with a 2.79 ERA in his last nine starts away from Angel Stadium.

Saunders gave up a pair of two-run homers, to Ian Kinsler and Andruw Jones, in the third inning Friday, putting the Angels in a 6-0 hole. He gave up another solo shot to Kinsler in the sixth.

“It was a bad outing,” Saunders said. “I missed over the plate with a few pitches, and they made me pay. Against that lineup, you have to hit your spots.”

One spoke short

It’s the easiest part of hitting for the cycle, but it was what separated Erick Aybar from becoming the sixth Angel to accomplish the rare feat.

The shortstop hit a run-scoring triple in the fifth, a solo home run in the seventh and doubled during the Angels’ five-run ninth.

All he needed for the cycle was a single, and when the Angels sent 10 men to the plate in the ninth, an inning that featured Bobby Abreu’s two-run double and Kendry Morales’ three-run homer, it looked as if he might get another at-bat.

But the rally died with Howie Kendrick’s fielder’s choice.

“I thought, ‘C’mon, give me one more at-bat,’ ” said Aybar, who hit for the cycle in a Dominican winter league game. “I wanted to get a base hit.”

Swing man

Vladimir Guerrero, sidelined since April 16 because of a torn right pectoral muscle, took batting practice on the field Friday for the first time since suffering his injury.

The Angels seemed very encouraged by the slugger’s workout, which consisted of 25-30 swings and running the bases. “He turned it loose,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He was killing the ball.”

No war of words

It didn’t seem all that inflammatory, but someone from the Angels thought it was.

Posted on a bulletin board in the Angels’ clubhouse Friday was a Dallas Morning News story in which Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd was quoted as saying that Angels ace John Lackey “better bring his ‘A’ game” today.

As if Lackey was going to bring his ‘B’ game?

“I’ve got nothing to say about that,” said Lackey, who will make his 2009 debut after missing the first six weeks of the season because of a forearm strain.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com