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Aybar, Angels rip Yankees

Apr 26, 2014 - 5:54 AM Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Erick Aybar went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer and four runs scored to back a solid start from C.J. Wilson, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim routed the New York Yankees, 13-1, in the opener of a three-game set Friday at Yankee Stadium.

Ian Stewart slugged a two-run homer, while Albert Pujols and Collin Cowgill each clubbed a solo shot for the Angels, who have won three of their last four games. Pujols' homer was his ninth of the month, matching Brian Downing's franchise record for homers in April.

"We're hitting the ball out of the park, and that's been pretty consistent," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The offensive part of our club is doing what we need it to do."

The run support was more than enough for Wilson (3-2), who held the Yankees to one run on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings.

It was a much different story for Hiroki Kuroda (2-2), as the New York starter surrendered a career-high eight runs -- six earned -- on 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings, snapping his string of consecutive starts of at least five innings pitched at 26.

"I think he'll figure it out," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Kuroda. "It's been a little up and down [so far this season]. Tonight, he could never find it."

Alfonso Soriano registered New York's lone RBI, while Brett Gardner recorded two of the six hits for the Yankees, who had won three of their last four games entering the series.

The Angels jumped on Kuroda in the second, as Stewart and Aybar started the inning with back-to-back singles to put men on the corners for Hank Conger, who ripped a double to right to score Stewart for a 1-0 lead. Cowgill then plated Aybar with a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line before J.B. Shuck grounded out to short, scoring Conger for a 3-0 lead.

The Halos tacked on two more in the third when Stewart followed Howie Kendrick's two-out single with a drive over the wall in center field. Jacoby Ellsbury nearly made a leaping grab to rob the homer, but the ball cleared his glove, and the fence, to give LA a 5-0 lead.

The Angels added three more runs in the fifth, which Pujols opened with a towering fly ball into the left-field seats to make it 6-0.

Two batters later, Kendrick doubled to center and then moved to third on a wild pitch. After Stewart fanned for the second out, Aybar lifted a fly ball down the right-field line that went off the heel of Carlos Beltran's glove, allowing Kendrick to score while Aybar cruised into second.

The error ended Kuroda's outing, as Bruce Billings entered from the bullpen and was greeted by Conger, who clubbed a double that caught chalk down the right-field line, scoring Aybar easily for an 8-0 lead.

Soriano's sac fly in the sixth got the Yankees on the board, but Aybar belted a three-run homer in the seventh before Cowgill followed with a solo shot two batters later to give the Halos a 12-1 advantage.

Aybar doubled off Shawn Kelley with two outs in the ninth before scoring on Conger's single to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Kuroda's previous career-high for runs allowed was seven, set seven different times, most recently on Aug. 28, 2013 against Toronto. He had gone at least five innings in 65 of his 69 starts with the Yankees entering Friday's game ... Downing hit nine home runs for the Angels in April of 1986 to help kick off the Halos' AL West championship season ... Pujols' homer was the 501st of his career ... The Angels have homered in 17 of their 22 games this season ... Gardner stole his fifth base of the season ... Conger finished with three hits and three RBI.