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Morales, Aybar homer, Angels beat Yankees 10-6

Jul 11, 2009 - 8:07 AM By SOLANGE REYNER Associated Press Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif.(AP) -- Mark Teixeira didn't mind the boo-birds.

Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar hit three-run homers and the Angels rallied to spoil Teixeira's first appearance in Anaheim with a 10-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.

Teixeira, who left in the offseason to sign a free-agent deal with the Yankees, went 1 for 5 and stranded four runners. He was showered by boos throughout the game.

"Every fan wants their team to win and to be the best. And if you leave, they're not happy about it," Teixeira said. "But I get booed in every stadium. That's the great thing about being a Yankee. So many people care when the Yankees come into town."

Teixeira helped fuel the Angels' postseason run in 2008 by hitting .358 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs after being acquired from the Atlanta Braves in late July.

He left with good memories.

"It was wonderful. I got a chance to play in the postseason for the first time, so I have nothing but great memories here," Teixeira said.

Aybar provided the spark for the Angels, who are missing Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera because of injuries.

"You don't see Erick hit home runs very often, you don't see him miss one by a couple feet foul and then come back and hit one," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Two good at-bats and we needed them."

Alex Rodriguez homered for the Yankees, who failed to extend their eight-game road winning streak despite taking a 4-0 lead in the second.

"We swung a notch above and got back into the game," Scioscia said.

Gary Matthews Jr. had an RBI single in the second for his 1,000th career hit, and Bobby Abreu drove in a run in the fifth to cut the Yankees' lead to 5-2. Morales then hit the first pitch he saw from Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain over the wall in center field to tie the game at 5.

Chone Figgins' RBI triple in the sixth gave Los Angeles a 6-5 lead.

Chamberlain, coming off one of his worst starts of the season where he gave up a career-high eight runs, allowed the run in the second before imploding in the fifth.

He pitched 4 1-3 innings and gave up five runs - four earned - and nine hits.

"It's frustrating. I'm letting my teammates down, so it's kind of embarrassing, too," Chamberlain said. "I'm doing everything I can between starts, going out everyday and continuing to work my tail off to get better to help this team, and I'm not getting results."

Mike Napoli reached on an atypical error by shortstop Derek Jeter in the seventh and Jeff Mathis was walked by Brian Bruney. With two outs, Aybar connected to deep right to make it 10-6.

Mark Melancon (0-1) took the loss for New York, with Jason Bulger (4-1) pitching an inning for the win.

Brian Fuentes struck out Jorge Posada with two runners on for his 25th save in 28 chances.

Angels starter Joe Saunders continued to struggle with his command, giving up the four early runs.

Jeter, who was 4 for 5, hit the first pitch for a leadoff single in the first and Johnny Damon was walked after starting the at-bat with an 0-2 count.

Rodriguez hit a double to score both runners and Nick Swisher had an RBI single off Saunders, who gave up nine hits and five runs in five innings.

Damon drove in another run in the second, with Rodriguez hitting his 15th homer in the fifth to make it 5-1.

Red Sox 1, Royals 0=

Dustin Pedroia doubled in a run in the eighth inning and Boston's Jon Lester outdueled Brian Bannister.

Lester (8-6) allowed four hits through eight innings, while Bannister (6-7) gave up just one through seven.

Mark Kotsay, playing with a calf injury, led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. Pinch-runner Aaron Bates advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Pedroia, coming off consecutive three-hit games, doubled off the left-field wall to break the tie.

Jonathan Papelbon got the last three outs for his 23rd save.

Bannister went 7 2-3 innings for visiting Kansas City, giving up three hits.

Blue Jays 2, Orioles 0=

Brett Cecil outpitched Jason Berken in a duel between struggling rookies and Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak.

Alex Rios hit two doubles and scored a run for the visiting Blue Jays, but Scott Rolen's 25-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 performance.

Cecil (3-1) allowed four hits over six innings to earn his first win in five starts since May 15. Scott Downs worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

Berken (1-6) gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings for Baltimore.

Rays 6, Athletics 0=

Jeff Niemann pitched a seven-hitter and Tampa Bay got home runs from Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria.

Niemann (8-4), the Rays' No. 5 starter, has two shutouts this season and is 6-1 over his last 10 starts.

Pena hit his 24th homer and Longoria added a solo shot for Tampa Bay, which has won nine straight at home.

Vin Mazzaro (2-5) allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings in losing his fifth straight decision. The Athletics have lost 11 of 15.

Rangers 6, Mariners 4=

Michael Young hit one of three home runs by visiting Texas, a three-run shot in the third inning.

Hank Blalock hit his 18th homer, a solo shot in the second, and Nelson Cruz added a two-run shot in the eighth, his 21st.

Scott Feldman (8-2) went 6 2-3 innings for Texas, allowing two runs and seven hits. Frank Francisco worked the ninth to pick up his 15th save.

Ken Griffey Jr. had three hits for the Mariners and Ichiro Suzuki went 2 for 4 to raise his major league-leading average to .362. Brandon Morrow (0-4) got the loss.

Twins 6, White Sox 4=

At Minneapolis, Joe Mauer's two-out single snapped a seventh-inning tie and Minnesota hung on for the victory.

Nick Blackburn (8-4) gave up nine hits and four runs in seven innings. Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth for his 23rd save.

The Twins took a 4-0 lead against John Danks in the first inning, but let the White Sox come back to tie it.

A.J. Pierzynski had a single and two doubles and Chris Getz had two RBIs for Chicago.

Octavio Dotel (1-3) walked Nick Punto to start the seventh, and Mauer drove him in with a two-out single up the middle.

Tigers 5, Indians 1=

All-Star Edwin Jackson pitched seven strong innings for Detroit.

Marcus Thames hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Tigers, who have won three straight. Josh Anderson had a two-run single.

Jackson (7-4) struck out four and allowed four hits, including Ryan Garko's homer.

Cliff Lee (4-9) gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings for visiting Cleveland. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has lost three consecutive starts.