SoCal MLB Preview

Los Angeles (55-37) at Oakland (50-42), 7:05 p.m.

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim can extend their lead in the American League West Division this weekend provided their bats don't go silent again. The Angels offense looks to stay red-hot when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Friday in the opener of a three-game series. Anaheim (55-37), which owns a five-game lead atop the AL West, lost four of its final five games in June after scoring one run or less in each of those setbacks. However, the Angels have gone 6-3 in July by scoring nearly 6.5 runs per game and are coming off their highest output since May 18 as they forged an 11-10 victory in 11 innings over the Texas Rangers on Thursday. Sean Gallagher tries to cool the Angels when he makes his first start for the Athletics on Friday. Acquired in the deal that sent former A's ace Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Gallagher posted a 3-4 record and 4.45 ERA in 12 games - 10 starts - this season. The 22-year-old righthander has made three starts against AL teams this season but owns an 0-1 record while yielding eight runs in 17 total innings against the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. Jon Garland (8-5, 3.76 ERA) goes for his third win in his last four starts when he takes the mound for the Angels. Garland is coming off his first complete game of the season, allowing just one run and six hits while striking out three during Sunday's 7-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Florida (48-44) at Los Angeles (45-47), 7:40 pm

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- All-Star Hanley Ramirez will attempt to lead the Florida Marlins to their fifth win in six contests when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Ramirez collected five hits and delivered the game-winning home run in the 11th inning as the Marlins defeated the Dodgers, 5-4, on Thursday in the series opener of this four-game series. The 24-year-old Ramirez hit a first-pitch fastball over the right-center field wall off reliever Brian Falkenborg (1-2) with two outs. He went 5-for-6 with three singles, a double and the decisive home run. The National League starter at shortstop for the Midsummer Classic, Ramirez leads Florida with a .312 batting average and 23 home runs this season. Uggla, who went 0-for-3 on Thursday in his first game back after an 11-game absence, also has 23 blasts. Los Angeles hopes lefthander Eric Stults (2-1, 2.22 ERA) can shutdown the talented Marlins' offense and erase the sting of Thursday's extra-inning loss. Stults, who will be making his fifth start of the season and 12th career, gave up two runs - one earned - and seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts over four innings during Sunday's 5-3 triumph over the San Francisco Giants. Florida will counter with Chris Volstad (0-0, 0.00), who is making his first career start. In his only other major league appearance, the 21-year-old righthander tossed two scoreless frames of relief in Sunday's 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies.