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Angels-Blue Jays Preview

Aug 22, 2009 - 3:48 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (73-46) at Toronto (55-64), 1:07 p.m. EDT

One of the majors' most consistent teams, the Los Angeles Angels have been able to avoid long losing streaks all year. There's something about games at Toronto, though, that seems to shake the AL West leader's focus.

In danger of matching their longest skid of the season, the Angels look avoid another road loss to the Blue Jays on Friday night.

Los Angeles (73-47), which has a 5 1/2-game lead over Texas, has done an outstanding job of rebounding from losses. The Angels' steady play has them on course to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

A 5-4 loss to Toronto (56-64) on Friday night in the opener of this three-game series, however, was Los Angeles' second straight defeat following a five-game winning streak.

"It's pretty tough but we're going to have to bounce back," Angels catcher Mike Napoli.

A loss Friday would give the Angels three straight for the fourth time in 2009 and first since June 20-22.

Los Angeles is 9-17 on the road against the Blue Jays since the start of the 2003 season. Poor pitching hasn't helped, as the Angels have given up five runs or more in three of its last four games at Rogers Centre.

After getting a terrible start from Sean O'Sullivan in the series opener, the Angels will next send Ervin Santana (6-6, 6.25 ERA) to the mound. The right-hander had a tough start to the season but has posted a 3.00 ERA in winning his last three starts

Santana gave up three runs and struck out five in six innings to earn a win in Los Angeles' 8-5 victory at Baltimore on Monday night.

Santana is 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA in five starts versus the Blue Jays.

Toronto will counter with Scott Richmond (6-6, 4.01), who will make his first appearance against the Angels.

The rookie right-hander last pitched Aug. 11, allowing three runs and eight hits in six innings of Toronto's 7-5 loss to the New York Yankees. It was his second start since being sidelined for a month with biceps tendinitis.

Richmond will face an Angels lineup that is a combined 3 for 16 with runners in scoring position over its last two games.

Napoli was Los Angeles' star at the plate Friday, hitting a three-run homer in the ninth before Casey Janssen saved the game for the Blue Jays. Napoli has three homers and seven RBIs in his last three games against Toronto.

The Angels did get some good news Friday, as center fielder Torii Hunter returned to the lineup after sitting out a game to rest his right abductor strain. Hunter, though, isn't expected to play Saturday with Gary Matthews Jr. the most likely candidate to replace him.

Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion sat out Friday and is day to day with a sore left knee. Jose Bautista will likely get another start at third if Encarnacion can't play.

Toronto got solo homers from Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells to snap a five-game skid. The Blue Jays scored three runs or fewer in four games during their losing streak.

Hill has three homers and six RBIs in six games against Los Angeles this season, but he's hitting .192 during that span.