Yankees 8, Angels 2
NEW YORK -- Right-hander Adam Warren pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the New York Yankees extended their winning streak to a season-high five games by scoring six times in the bottom of the first in an 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Saturday night.
Warren (4-4) allowed two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, marking the fifth straight outing he reached the seventh. He retired the first nine hitters and would have pitched seven innings for the third time in his brief career, but he walked second baseman Johnny Giavotella and was replaced by Justin Wilson.
Warren's outing was supported by New York's six-run first inning against Angels' right-hander Garrett Richards (5-4), who allowed six runs and five hits while getting only two outs in his shortest career start.
In a span of 37 pitches, the Yankees took a 6-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Mark Teixeira, a wild pitch, a two-run home run by catcher Brian McCann and a two-run single by center fielder Brett Gardner. New York scored its seventh run on an RBI single by right fielder Carlos Beltran in the second and its final run on a bases-loaded walk by Teixeira in the eighth.
New York designated hitter Alex Rodriguez remained nine shy of 3,000 hits although he reached base four times.
Giavotella lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth and center fielder Mike Trout hit his 15th home run in the sixth for the Angels, who dropped their fourth straight.
The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning on two walks and a single. On the next pitch, Teixeira lifted a sacrifice fly to the edge of the warning track in center field. Two pitches later, third baseman Chase Headley scored on a wild pitch.
McCann then sent a 3-1 fastball into the right-field seats for a two-run homer that extended the lead to 4-0.
After consecutive singles by Beltran and shortstop Didi Gregorius, the Angels appeared to get the second out when first baseman Albert Pujols fielded second baseman Stephen Drew's ground ball and threw to second. Gregorius appeared to be out after leaning off second, but replays showed that shortstop Erick Aybar's foot came off the bag and the initial call was overturned after the Yankees challenged.
Gardner then lined a two-run single up the middle for a 6-0 lead that knocked out Richards.
In the second, New York had three straight one-out singles and took a 7-0 lead on Beltran's base hit off left-hander Hector Santiago.
The Angels threatened in the fourth and fifth, but each time Warren had defensive help. Gregorius started an inning-ending double play in the fourth, and rookie left fielder Ramon Flores made a running catch at the warning track in the fifth, and Giavotella settled for a sacrifice fly.
NOTES: The Angels recalled INF C.J. Cron from Triple-A Salt Lake City nearly two weeks after he was optioned there with a .204 average in the majors. Cron batted .333 (13-for-39) in 10 games for Salt Lake City. ... LHP Edgar Ibarra was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room for Cron. Ibarra appeared in two games spanning four innings after having his contract purchased Monday. ... New York RF Carlos Beltran returned to the lineup after sitting out two games as a precaution with a sore foot. ... Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury (sprained right knee) did some light running in the outfield but did not have the brace on his knee. ... The Yankee Stadium scoreboard showed the Belmont Stakes to fans before the game.