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Anderson's record night helps Angels throttle Yankees

Aug 22, 2007 - 6:32 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Even for someone who has had the New York Yankees' number his entire career, Garret Anderson had a game for the ages.

Anderson belted two homers and set a franchise record with 10 RBI as the Los Angeles Angels blasted of Anaheim the New York Yankees, 18-9, on Tuesday.

Already Anaheim's franchise leader in RBI, Anderson had suffered through a tough month, batting .227 (17-for-75) with one home run and 12 RBI. However, the Yankees have generally brought out the best in the 35-year-old, who has hit .311 (137-for-440) with 14 homers and 76 RBI lifetime against New York.

"I guess when I told him (Anderson) that he needs to start hitting with runners in scoring position, he took it to heart," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Anderson, who was batting just .204 (20-for-98) with runners in scoring position entering this contest, started the Angels' offensive explosion in the first with a two-run double to right for a 2-0 lead.

"I was just thinking base hit at that time, so we could get that early lead against a team like the Yankees," Anderson said.

After New York posted a run in the top of the second to trim the advantage in half, the three-time All-Star doubled again to score Vladimir Guerrero in the bottom of the five-run frame that eventually increased the bulge to 7-2.

"I just got some pitches that I could drive and hit them well tonight," Anderson said.

The 2003 All-Star Game MVP was just getting started. He capped another five-run inning in the third, crushing a pitch from reliever Edwar Ramirez in the third inning for a three-run shot - his first home run in 19 games. After a groundout in his fourth at-bat the fifth, Anderson belted his eighth career grand slam - another franchise record.

"At that point, what I had done already wasn't on my mind other than to put runs on the board," Anderson said.

Anderson had a chance to break the all-time American League record of 11 RBI in a game, set by the Yankees' Tony Lazzeri on May 24, 1936. However, he grounded out to shortstop Wilson Betemit with two outs and two runners on in the bottom of the eighth to end his run with history.

"It still hasn't sunk in yet," Anderson said. "Not until after the grand slam (did I realize) that I had a lot of RBI. I just try to look at the numbers as one game and to not get ahead of myself."

Anderson is just the 12th player in major league history to have 10 RBI in a game, becoming the oldest player in 63 years to accomplish the feat, behind only the Yankees' Phil Weintraub, who recorded 11 RBI on April 30, 1944.

In a little bit of irony, the last player to have 10 RBI in a single game was New York's Alex Rodriguez on April 26, 2005 against the Angels.

"It's a great feeling and accomplishment for what he (Anderson) did," Rodriguez said. "He will never forget it."

Despite allowing five runs and five hits over six frames, Kelvim Escobar (14-6) used Anderson's record night to grab his 14th win, making him the second Angel pitcher to reach that mark behind John Lackey's 15. Marc Gwyn allowed two runs over the final three innings to record the first save of his career.

"I definitely didn't have my best stuff and you need your best stuff when you face New York, but luckily the offense supported me tonight," Escobar said.

Mike Mussina (8-9), who owns three of the last four road wins the Yankees have against Anaheim, surrendered seven runs and seven hits over just 1 2/3 innings. It was the righthander's shortest outing since September 27, 2005, against the Baltimore Orioles.

"This was one of my top five worst starts of my career," Mussina said.

Rodriguez blasted two solo homers for New York, which fell to 4-11 in their last 15 contests at Angel Stadium.

"Just wasn't enough offense for us tonight, but we just have to put this game behind us and get ready for tomorrow to avoid the sweep," Rodriguez said.