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Santana steps in for Haren to face Yanks

Jun 4, 2011 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - The second installment of a three-game series between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees was supposed to be a pitchers duel between CC Sabathia and Dan Haren. but instead Mike Scioscia will turn to Ervin Santana.

Dan Haren, who has not missed a start since 2005, twisted his back during a bullpen session on Wednesday, and likely won't see the mound again until Tuesday, prompting Scioscia to move up Santana.

Santana has been inconsistent for the Angels all season and is coming off one of his lackluster efforts. In six innings against the Royals, Santana allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks. The loss stopped a minor two- game winning streak for the pitcher, who is now just 3-4 on the season.

It might not get any better for the 28-year-old, who has been rather unimpressive in 10 career starts against New York. Santana does boast a winning ledger of 5-3 against the Bronx Bombers, but his ERA of 5.55 does not correlate with the record.

Santana and the Angels will have their hands full because Sabathia has been one of the top pitchers of this generation and at the age of 30 already possesses 163 victories. The hefty lefty has not claimed the Cy Young in either of the past two seasons, but he has pitched like the trophy's owner, racking up 40 wins.

The 6-7 southpaw is at it again in 2011, and comes into this contest riding a personal three-game winning streak. In each of those three starts Sabathia has thrown eight or more innings, and the last time he was on the hill, he held the Seattle Mariners to just one run. Sabathia scattered five hits over eight innings in that and also struck out five batters to run his record to 6-3, while lowering his ERA to 2.98.

However, there is one team through the recent years that has not been intimidated by Sabathia, and that is Anaheim. In 14 starts against the Halos, Sabathia is just 5-7 and possesses a lackluster earned run average of 4.72.

Sabathia is not the only Yankee to struggle against Anaheim, in fact, New York as an organization has not enjoyed its time at Angel Stadium over the past few seasons. New York has not claimed a road series against the Angels since 2004 and entered this three-game soiree just 8-20 in its last 28 games in Anaheim.

The losing continued on Friday, as Peter Bourjos singled in the go-ahead run in the fourth inning and Los Angeles held on for a 3-2 win.

Beleaguered by poor run support, Jered Weaver (7-4) had lost his previous four decisions over six appearances. But on Friday, the Angels scored just enough to hand the righty his first victory since April 25 against Oakland. Weaver, who threw nine shutout innings in a no-decision at Minnesota last Saturday, fanned eight batters and gave up two runs on three hits over seven innings pitched.

The LA bullpen did the rest, as Scott Downs and Jordan Walden combined for three strikeouts over the final two innings. Walden picked up his 13th save.

Ivan Nova (4-4) was charged with eight hits and three runs -- two earned -- over six-plus innings for the Yankees, who had their four-game win streak broken.