Texas Rangers (60-92) at LA Angels of Anaheim (95-58), 10:05 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - The LA Angels of Anaheim will continue their pursuit of the American League's top seed when they open a three-game series Friday versus the Texas Rangers.
The AL West-champion Angels are 4-3 on a 10-game homestand and 95-58 this season. They did, however, drop a 3-1 decision to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. Kevin Jepsen served up a three-run homer to Logan Morrison in the top of the ninth inning to take the loss.
Hank Conger got the Halos on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. Brennan Boesch had two of Anaheim's five hits.
Wade LeBlanc got the start for the Angels and allowed three hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Jered Weaver, who was scheduled to start, was given the night off.
"We made the decision this morning to go with LeBlanc tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Wade came through."
Hector Santiago gets the call for the Angels Friday and has a 5-8 record to go along with a 3.55 earned run average. Santiago has faced the Rangers nine times (6 starts) in his career and is 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA.
In 14 games (11 starts) at home, Santiago is 2-4 with a 3.28 ERA.
The Rangers have ripped off six straight wins and recorded a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics thanks to Thursday's 7-2 win. Jake Smolinski had four hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Tomas Telis drove in two runs for the Rangers, who grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Nick Martinez allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings for the win.
In other team news, former Rangers manager Ron Washington, who recently resigned from the post, admitted Thursday of marital infidelity. Washington said he "was not true" to his wife in a press conference.
"I was not true to my wife after 42 years. I broke her trust," Washington said at podium. "I'm here today to own that mistake and to apologize to her and to those I disappointed and those who have trusted in me. I let them down. ... Today I'm at a very low time in my life. I'm sorry for breaking the trust that I had with my wife and for disappointing my players, for disappointing my coaches, for disappointing Major League Baseball and for disappointing the Texas Rangers."
Lisalverto Bonilla will make his second career start for Texas Friday and is 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA in three games (1 start) this season. Bonilla defeated Atlanta in Saturday's 3-2 victory and allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.
Bonilla faced the Angels in relief of an 8-1 loss on Sept. 10 and allowed three runs (2 earned) in just two-thirds of an inning.
The Angels have owned the Rangers this season to the tune of 13-3.