Seattle @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2011 ) Seattle 1, LA Angels 5

THE STORY: Howie Kendrick has been on a tear – and the Los Angeles Angels are rocketing up the standings as a result. A first-time All-Star, Kendrick matched his career-high hitting streak of 16 games with an RBI double as the Angels posted a 5-1 home triumph over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. Los Angeles has won 11 of its last 14 to move one game behind the American League West-leading Texas Rangers. The Angels will vie for their 14th home win in 16 outings against the Mariners when they send Ervin Santana to the mound Friday for the second of a four-game set.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT, FSW

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Blake Beavan (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (4-8, 3.89 ERA).

Beavan acquitted himself well in his major league debut. Making the start with Erik Bedard on the 15-day disabled list, the 22-year-old Beavan permitted one run on three hits in seven innings in a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The 17th overall pick of the 2007 draft, Beavan tossed first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 27 batters he faced.

Santana snapped a four-game skid with a dominant performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. The 28-year-old hurler allowed one hit and six hits while striking out eight in 7 2/3 innings in the 3-1 triumph. Although Santana has fared well against the Mariners, posting a 9-5 career mark, he will be looking to avenge a loss to the Pacific Northwest residents on June 15.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (43-45): Highly touted prospect Kyle Seager became the eighth Mariner to make his major league debut this season. The 23-year-old North Carolina native went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts on Thursday. Seager has been named the team's regular third baseman for the foreseeable future. Fellow rookie Carlos Peguero has struck out six times during his 0-for-11 slump at the plate. Franklin Gutierrez had two of his team's six hits Thursday, but is just 6-for-32 in his career against Santana.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (47-42): Bobby Abreu recorded his 1,300th career RBI following his run-scoring single in the Angels' three-run third inning on Thursday. Peter Bourjos experienced tightness in his right hamstring following his double in the eighth inning. He will be re-evaluated prior to Friday's contest, but will likely be limited against the Mariners. Kendrick is batting .328 (20-for-61) during his hitting streak. The Angels held a pregame moment of silence for Dick Williams, who died earlier Thursday. Williams managed the club for parts of three seasons from 1974-76.

FINAL PITCH: "We were going to go fishing, go boating, just get away from baseball for a few days. But I’m not complaining. I’d rather be playing baseball anyway." – Angels closer Jordan Walden, on being named to the American League All-Star team as a replacement for injured New York Yankees stud Mariano Rivera.