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Royals-Angels Preview

May 8, 2009 - 6:10 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (17-11) at Los Angeles (12-14), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Kansas City Royals are trying to extend their longest winning streak of the season. They've been outstanding at finding ways to win when Gil Meche starts on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.

Meche looks to win his seventh straight road start against the Angels as the Royals seek their seventh consecutive victory in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.

AL Central-leading Kansas City (18-11) has won eight of nine and has a chance to match its longest winning streak from last season, set Sept. 13-18. The Royals have given up one run or none in three of their last four games, including a 3-1 victory over Seattle on Thursday.

Meche (2-2, 4.14 ERA) will now try to continue Kansas City's string of strong pitching, facing an Angels team he has beaten six straight times on its home field despite posting a 5.29 ERA. The Royals have given him a combined 45 runs to work with in those games.

Meche is 8-2 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts overall versus Los Angeles (13-14).

On Sunday, the right-hander gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings to earn a win as Kansas City beat Minnesota 7-5. Meche is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his last three starts.

Joakim Soria, who earned a save in Meche's last outing, was shaky before closing out Thursday's game in his first appearance since Sunday. The right-hander, who's been bothered by a sore shoulder, gave up a run and two hits while walking two to load the bases with two outs.

"Everybody is so used him coming in and doing it on nine or 10 pitches and 1-2-3," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "It was just rust."

Los Angeles has had trouble closing games after Francisco Rodriguez left to sign with the New York Mets in the offseason. Brian Fuentes has converted seven of nine opportunities but has a 6.52 ERA.

He's yet to appear in a game in relief of Matt Palmer (2-0, 3.65), who will take the mound for Los Angeles. The right-hander was impressive in his second start of the season, allowing one run and three hits in 6 1-3 innings as Los Angeles beat the New York Yankees 8-4 on Saturday.

Palmer was in the minors for seven seasons before making his major league debut with San Francisco last year. He had an 11.74 ERA in two Triple-A starts this season before beating Detroit 10-5 in his Angels debut April 23.

This will be his first appearance against Kansas City.

Los Angeles got a three-hitter from Jered Weaver in a 6-1 win over Toronto on Thursday night. The Angels have won four of five, averaging 6.0 runs in the victories.

Mike Napoli, who has started 16 games behind the plate for the Angels, has been the designated hitter in three of his last six contests. He's thrived in that role, going 8 for 11 with four RBIs and four runs.

Napoli, though, is batting just .158 (6 for 38) in 15 games against the Royals.

Los Angeles went 3-2 against Kansas City last season.