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Yankees host Angels, rookie Clippard makes second start

May 25, 2007 - 2:46 PM LA Angels (28-20) at NY Yankees (21-24) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Rookie Tyler Clippard will look for his second straight impressive start for the New York Yankees when they take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Making his major league debut last Sunday night, the 22-year-old Clippard (1-0, 1.50 ERA) allowing just one run and three hits in a 6-2 victory over the New York Mets.

Entering the contest, the righthander posted a 3-2 mark with a 2.72 ERA in eight starts this season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre of the International League.

But thanks to an injury-ravaged rotation, New York had to rely on the inexperienced Clippard, who became the 11th different starter - and seventh rookie - to take the mound for the club this season.

The Yankees are coming off a much-needed series win over the rival Boston Red Sox, including Wednesday's 8-3 victory.

New York won for the third time in four games and now is 9 1/2 games behind Boston. Before Wednesday, it had not won a series since taking two of three from Texas at Yankee Stadium two weeks ago.

The Yankees were 16-16 when they took the first two games with the Rangers and six games behind the Red Sox. The 14-2 loss in the series finale triggered a 2-7 slide that saw the Yankees face their first double-digit deficit since manager Joe Torre took over in 1996.

New York will aim to keep its improved play going against Angels starter Jered Weaver (3-3, 3.46), who is looking for his third straight win. The righthander is 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in his last three starts after a rocky start to the campaign.

Anaheim had its season-high six-game winning streak snapped in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the defending American League champion Detroit Tigers.