Final
Yanks ride winning streak into Anaheim
Jun 3, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - A three-game sweep in their last series pushed the Yankees winning streak to a season-best four straight games. Extending that run tonight at Angel Stadium may prove difficult given their recent struggles there and a matchup with a resurgent Jered Weaver.Still, New York aims to kick its season series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim off on the right foot this evening in the opener of a three-game set.
The Yankees took all three games of their recent series from the Athletics, capping the set with a 4-2 win on Wednesday. Nick Swisher hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to back seven solid innings from A.J. Burnett.
Burnett settled down after giving up a two-run homer in the first inning and ended up turning in a seven-inning outing for the first time since May 11.
Derek Jeter connected on a double for his 2,984th career hit, while Alex Rodriguez drove in a run with a double of his own to help New York beat Oakland for a 10th straight time.
"Any time you win 10 in a row off a club, it just doesn't really happen very often," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, whose club is 11-4 over its last 15 games. "They have talent over there and a very good pitching staff. We've just kind of had our way and we've been fortunate."
Girardi's club hasn't been as fortunate at Angel Stadium. New York hasn't won a road series in Anaheim since 2004 and has lost 20 of its last 28 trips there. The Yankees have also split their season series with the Angels in each of the previous two seasons after losing five straight season sets between 2004-08.
In fact, New York's 45-54 record against Anaheim since 2000 is its only losing record versus an American League club in that span, though the Yankees did oust the Angels in six games during the 2009 ALCS.
Complicating matters for New York is a matchup with Weaver, who still hasn't won since he was 6-0 on April 25, but has allowed just one run over 16 innings in consecutive no-decisions.
The right-hander hurled nine scoreless innings versus the Twins on Saturday, working around two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. However, Minnesota starter Anthony Swarzak took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Twins eventually won, 1-0, in 10 innings.
"They both were letting it hang on every pitch," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of the starters. "Both pitchers had great poise to be able to challenge hitters and make pitches when you know that one mistake could be the ball game."
The 28-year-old Weaver, who lost four straight starts after winning his first six, is 6-4 with a 2.10 earned run average on the season and 4-2 with a 5.88 ERA in seven career meetings with the Yankees.
A lack of run support also cost the Angels on Wednesday in Kansas City. Starter Tyler Chatwood gave up five hits over 7 2/3 innings, but the Angels lost a 2-0 game when the Royals' Billy Butler hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.
The hit was originally a double after Butler's blast hit off the top of the left-field fence, but was reviewed by the umpires and changed to a homer.
In losing the rubber match of the three-game set, the Angels fell to 7-6 since a five-game slide from May 15-19.
"Obviously you want to win the series, but sometimes losing this way isn't that bad. It was a hell of a game. Somebody had to score first and it just so happened to be them," said Chatwood.
The Angels will begin a nine-game homestand tonight against the Yankees' Ivan Nova, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings in his last start on Saturday in Seattle. Nova was charged with four runs on five hits and three walks, but picked up his second straight no-decision in his club's 5-4 loss in 12 innings when the Mariners got to Yankee closer Mariano Rivera.
"He just had no command tonight," Girardi said of Nova.
It was a rare slip up by Rivera and the bullpen as the unit has allowed just six runs in 39 innings in relief of Nova this year for a 1.38 ERA.
The 24-year-old righty is 4-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) this season and will face the Angels for the first time.
- NEW YORK: 2
LOS ANGELES: 3
Final
Jun 4 12:58 AM - Maicer Izturis struck out swinging. Bases loaded with two outs and Erick Aybar due up.
Yankees 2, Angels 3 Bot 4, 2 OutsJun 3 11:37 PM - Jorge Posada ground-rule double to right scored Alex Rodriguez with two out. On the play, Nick Swisher advanced to third. Runners on second and third and Brett Gardner due up.
Yankees 2, Angels 2 Top 4, 2 OutsJun 3 11:22 PM - Russell Martin single to right scored Alex Rodriguez with one out. Runner on first and Nick Swisher due up.
Yankees 1, Angels 2 Top 2, 1 OutJun 3 10:38 PM - Alberto Callaspo ground out short to first scored Bobby Abreu with two out. On the play, Torii Hunter advanced to second. Runner on second and Russell Branyan due up.
Yankees 0, Angels 2 Bot 1, 2 OutsJun 3 10:31 PM - Bobby Abreu double to center scored Erick Aybar with one out. Runner on second and Torii Hunter due up.
Yankees 0, Angels 1 Bot 1, 1 OutJun 3 10:27 PM - NEW YORK: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 3 10:09 PM - Jeff K Mass Yankee fan here but have to give the edge to Weaver, he's due!
Yankees vs. AngelsJun 3 2:04 PM - Jeff K Mass Yanks always have a tough time in Anaheim. Though the Angels are not the same team they were a year or so ago. Looking for the Yanks to take 2 of 3
Yankees vs. AngelsJun 2 12:09 PM
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