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Angels-Dodgers Preview

Jun 11, 2010 - 12:16 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (33-29) at Los Angeles (36-24), 10:10 p.m. EDT

Strong play during a 13-game homestand has moved the Los Angeles Dodgers into first place in their division with the best record in the NL.

The comforts of Dodger Stadium, however, haven't meant much against the Los Angeles Angels.

The Dodgers look to improve to 9-2 on their homestand with their fifth straight win Friday night when they open the Freeway Series against the Angels, who have won two of their last three series at Dodger Stadium.

After a 4-3 win at Colorado on May 30, Los Angeles (36-24) opened its homestand two games out of first place in the NL West. It's won eight of 10 since, including sweeping a three-game series against St. Louis this week.

The Dodgers closed the set with a 4-3 win Wednesday. Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer and Blake DeWitt also drove in two runs to back Clayton Kershaw, who struck out 10 in seven innings.

Los Angeles has a 2.76 ERA during the homestand, with opponents hitting .217.

"In spring training, we knew pitching would be the reason we'd be successful," manager Joe Torre told the Dodgers' official website.

Pitching hasn't been a problem against the Angels, but the Dodgers have lost five of their last eight home games against their crosstown rivals despite a 3.40 ERA.

The Angels won two of three at Dodger Stadium last season while the Dodgers evened the season series by winning two of three in Anaheim.

Although the fact that both teams are contending in their respective divisions may add to fans' excitement about the series, Torre said this interleague rivalry is not an ideal situation.

"We play a contending team six times," he said. "I just think in terms of fairness, give everybody the same shot against the same caliber of team you're playing."

The Angels are in second place in the AL West, but they cooled off this week, splitting a four-game road series against the Athletics. Los Angeles won nine of 10, including a 4-2 victory to open that series, but it scored one run in two of the next three games, suffering a 6-1 loss Thursday.

Los Angeles totaled 13 runs and hit .257 in the series after scoring 49 runs while batting .311 in the first seven games of the road trip.

The Angels may not find it any easier to hit against Chad Billingsley (6-3, 3.80 ERA), who is 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his last six starts. He gave up three runs in six innings of a 9-3 loss to the Braves on Saturday.

The right-hander is 1-2 against the Angels despite a 2.89 ERA. The Dodgers lost both of his starts against them last season.

The Angels counter with Joel Pineiro (4-6, 5.23), who snapped a three-game winless streak Sunday despite a shaky start against Seattle. The right-hander gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 9-4 win, giving up three runs in the first.

Pineiro is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers, including one against them last season while with the Cardinals in which he gave up one run in eight innings of a 3-2, 15-inning win.