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Yanks continue home-opening success, shut down Halos

Apr 13, 2012 - 11:05 PM Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight-plus scoreless innings in his Bronx debut, as the New York Yankees started the home portion of their schedule with a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Kuroda (1-1) gave up five hits to go with six strikeouts and two walks for the Yankees, who have won 14 of their last 15 home openers. The Japanese hurler bounced back from a tough outing in his Yankees debut on Saturday, when he was roughed up by the Rays for six runs (four earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored. The home run was the 630th of Rodriguez's career, moving into a tie for fifth with Ken Griffey Jr. on baseball's all-time HR list.

Curtis Granderson also hit a solo homer for New York, which got a three-run double from Nick Swisher.

Ervin Santana (0-2) allowed five runs on six hits in six full frames for the Angels, who have lost three in a row. He struck out five and walked three.

"I think the main thing is to flip the page, try to even the series and try to win it on Sunday," said Angels first baseman Albert Pujols.

The Yankees gave Kuroda some early run support by scoring three times in the first inning. Rodriguez singled with two outs to get things started. Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira followed with walks to load the bases. Swisher then cleared the bases with a double to right-center field.

Rodriguez's solo homer to center to start the third made it a 4-0 game. He said afterward that he's not caught up in chasing history.

"I don't allow myself to be a fan of what I'm trying to do. I'm part of a team," he said. "I'm trying to be one of the guys to help the team win. When it's all said and done, I can maybe look back and appreciate it. But not now."

Meanwhile, Kuroda was cruising along on the mound for New York. He did put men on first and second with two outs in the fifth, but got Erick Aybar to ground out.

Granderson's blast to right in the bottom half of the frame made it 5-0.

Kuroda retired 10 straight batters before Bobby Abreu's infield single in the ninth. The hit brought an end to Kuroda's day. David Robertson got Pujols to ground into a double play and fanned Kendrys Morales.

Game Notes

The Yankees took five of the nine matchups from the Halos last season, their first series win over LA since 2003...Recently retired Yankees catcher Jorge Posada threw out the first pitch...Santana fell to 5-6 lifetime against the Yankees...New York improved to 73-36-1 all-time in home openers.