Yankees complete four-game sweep of Angels
NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran highlighted a five-run fifth inning with a tiebreaking two-run double as the New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 6-3 victory Thursday.
Beltran did not homer for the fourth straight game but the switch-hitting right fielder helped the Yankees get their first four-game sweep of the Angels since 1994 by driving in 10 runs during the series.
The Yankees (30-30) won their fourth straight game and reached .500 for the second time in the last two-plus weeks.
Chris Parmelee followed up Wednesday's two home run night by starting the five-run inning off Jhoulys Chacin (1-2) with an RBI single. He ended the game his right hamstring examined after injuring it in the seventh.
After Beltran's double, Alex Rodriguez had a sacrifice fly and Brian McCann contributed a run-scoring double for his 500th career extra-base hit.
Rodriguez also had an RBI double in the seventh.
C.J. Cron had an RBI single and Jeffry Marte had a pinch hit two-run homer for the Angels, who have lost nine straight games in New York and 15 of their last 18 visits to Yankee Stadium.
Ivan Nova (5-3) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.He exited to applause after allowing Marte's home run into the second deck in left field.
Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller pitched a scoreless inning apiece. Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a scoreless ninth to record his 11th save.
Chacin allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead with one out in the fourth. Mike Trout doubled down the left-field line, stole second and scored on a single by Cron through a drawn-in infield.
New York tied it with one out in the fifth and scored four more runs in the inning.
Didi Gregorius walked, advanced on a groundout and scored New York's first run when Parmelee singled to left field.
The Yankees then loaded the bases on a single by Jacoby Ellsbury and a walk by Brett Gardner before Beltran lined a two-run double to right field that hopped into the seats after hitting the line.
The lead reached 4-1 when Gardner scored on a sacrifice fly by Rodriguez and McCann followed with an RBI double to the warning track in left.
NOTES: The Angels activated RHP Cory Rasmus from the disabled list after he had been out since mid-May with a groin injury. ... According to Elias Sports Bureau, 1B Chris Parmelee and OF Roger Maris are the only players to homer twice in their first start for the Yankees. ... New York LHP Chasen Shreve (left shoulder) threw 25 pitches in a pain-free bullpen session. ... SS Andrelton Simmons (thumb) had his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A Salt Lake. Manager Mike Scioscia said he will play at least two games there before the Angels decide if he's ready to return. ... Each player had t-shirts with the phrase "No Runs DMC" in reference to the Yankees' late-inning relief trio of RHP Dellin Betances, LHPs Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. Asked what he thought of the shirts, manager Joe Girardi said, "I have not seen them. I was told what they were. It's kind of clever."