Something about the Baltimore Orioles seems to bring out the best in the Los Angeles Angels' offense.

After putting up another big number against Baltimore, the Angels look to help All-Star C.J. Wilson extend his unbeaten streak to nine starts Friday night.

Los Angeles (46-37) owns a 5-1 record in this season's series with the Orioles after winning Thursday's four-game series opener 9-7. The Angels have scored at least six runs in each of their five victories over Baltimore, and have outscored the Orioles by a 43-20 margin overall.

Kendrys Morales has been especially potent versus Orioles pitching, batting .500 during a seven-game hitting streak against them after going 3 for 4 with three RBIs on Thursday.

Advertisement

Morales, whose .405 career average versus Baltimore is his best against any AL opponent, is also 16 for 37 (.432) during his overall nine-game hitting streak.

Mike Trout went 2 for 2 with a walk and drove in two runs Thursday for Los Angeles, which bounced back after dropping four of its previous six to end a nine-game road trip.

The Angels will look to continue their hot hitting as Wilson makes his final start before heading to next week's All-Star Game.

Wilson (9-4, 2.33 ERA) hasn't lost since falling to the White Sox on May 17. The Angels have won each of his last eight starts, with Wilson going 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA in that span. The left-hander gave up two runs - one earned - and three hits in five innings of Los Angeles' 10-6 win Sunday at Toronto.

Wilson's previous outing was a 7-3 victory at Baltimore on June 26, when he limited the Orioles to one run over seven innings.

Orioles starters, meanwhile, have a combined 7.79 ERA over their last 10 games. On Friday, Baltimore will send Southern California native Miguel Gonzalez to the mound for his first major league start.

"It's pretty exciting to be here in front of family and friends," Gonzalez told the Orioles' official website. "(The Orioles) are giving me the opportunity to start, so I'm going to give it my all."

The rookie right-hander has no record and a 2.31 ERA in three relief appearances. He gave up one run in each outing, including Sunday when he pitched 4 1-3 innings of Baltimore's 6-2 loss to Cleveland.

The Orioles are 20-1 when their starter pitches at least seven innings, but that's only happened twice in their last 12 games. In light of that fact, it's not surprising that Baltimore (44-38) has been outscored by 43 runs while dropping 11 of its last 16.

Despite Thursday's outcome, the Orioles enjoyed one of their better offensive performances. Matt Wieters hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, while Mark Reynolds and Ryan Flaherty added solo shots.

The Angels have won 10 of their last 13 overall meetings with the Orioles, including six of the last seven at home.