• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Angels offense tries to stay hot vs. Athletics

Jul 11, 2008 - 1:39 PM Los Angeles (55-37) at Oakland (50-42) 10:05 p.m. EDT

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.