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Wilson aims for repeated success against Yankees

Apr 14, 2012 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - C.J. Wilson hopes to duplicate a terrific debut with his new club this afternoon when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim resume a three- game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

After spending the first seven years of his career with the Texas Rangers, Wilson signed a five-year deal the Angels this offseason. He was terrific in his first start with his new club on Monday, holding the Minnesota Twins to a run and three hits over seven innings.

"It's a team, man, I don't really care about that," Wilson said on whether this was him putting his stamp on his new club. "I don't care where I pitch. It doesn't matter. As long as we win, as a team, that's all that matters."

Wilson has faced the Yankees 21 times (four starts) and is still searching for his first win against them, posting an 0-3 mark to go along with a 3.80 earned run average.

New York will counter with righty Phil Hughes, who was charged with the loss his first time out versus the Rays. Hughes only allowed two runs and five hits, but only got through 4 2/3 innings and tossed 99 pitches in his team's 3-0 loss.

"They did a good job," Hughes said of the Rays. "They battled some really key at-bats when I would have liked to have had quick outs and put guys away. I have to do a better job of trying to get some outs early on and throw some better pitches in those situations."

Hughes is 3-1 lifetime versus the Angels with a 6.20 ERA in six games, three of which have been starts.

The Yankees got the upperhand in this series on Friday, as Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight-plus scoreless innings in his Bronx debut to help New York win its home opener, 5-0.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," Kuroda said through a translator. "I would like to repeat it as much as I can this season."

Kuroda (1-1) gave up five hits to go with six strikeouts and two walks for the Yankees, who have won 14 of their last 15 home openers. The Japanese hurler bounced back from a tough outing in his Yankees debut on Saturday, when he was roughed up by the Rays for six runs (four earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored. The home run was the 630th of Rodriguez's career, moving into a tie for fifth with Ken Griffey Jr. on baseball's all-time HR list.

Curtis Granderson also hit a solo homer for New York, which got a three-run double from Nick Swisher.

Ervin Santana (0-2) allowed five runs on six hits in six full frames for the Angels, who have lost three in a row. He struck out five and walked three.

"I think the main thing is to flip the page, try to even the series and try to win it on Sunday," said Angels first baseman Albert Pujols.

The Yankees took five of the nine matchups between these teams last season. It was their first series win over the Halos since 2003.