Tanaka, Yankees blank Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Masahiro Tanaka allowed five hits over 7 2/3 innings and Ronald Torreyes had four hits including his first career home run as the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-0 at Angel Stadium.
New York (62-59) broke a two-game losing streak to move within five games of the Baltimore Orioles for the second AL wild card and have won all five games against Los Angeles this season. Jacoby Ellsbury, Didi Gregorius and Brian McCann hit solo home runs.
Tanaka (10-4) struck out nine and walked none, the third straight start in which he has struck out a minimum of eight batters without issuing a walk. He lowered his ERA to 3.25, throwing 100 pitches and not allowing an extra-base hit.
Los Angeles (51-71) lost for the 13th time in 15 games to remain in last place in the AL West. Weaver (8-10) surrendered 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings and has surrendered 30 HR this season. Mike Trout went 2-for-3 with two singles.
New York made it 7-0 in the sixth inning with a pair of runs against reliever Mike Morin. Torreyes' line single drove in Aaron Hicks and after an Ellsbury single, Gregorius lined a double to score Torreyes.
The Yankees took a commanding 5-0 lead in the fifth powered by solo homers from Torreyes, Gregorius and McCann. Torreyes picked on a 0-1 slider from Weaver for his first home run of the season. Gregorius and McCann hit their 16th and 17th homers respectively to drive Weaver from the game. It was the second time in his career Weaver had surrendered four homers in a game.
New York extended its lead to 2-0 in the third inning. Torreyes led off with a double and Ellsbury plated with a line-drive single to center field.
Ellsbury led off the game with a home run to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Ellsbury hit Weaver's third pitch of the game, a slow curveball into the lower right-field stands for his fifth homer and the team's first leadoff homer of the season. Ellsbury had not hit a homer since July 10 at Cleveland.
NOTES: Yankees OF Brett Gardner did not play because of a bruised ankle. Gardner played in Wednesday's loss to Toronto after missing four games because of the injury, manager Joe Girardi said Gardner will test the ankle before Saturday's game and make a decision on his fitness. ... New York 3B Chase Headley sat out with a sore Achilles tendon. Headley said the medical staff diagnosed the injury as Achilles tendonitis and said he would be available for pinch-hitting duties. The staff assured him there is no risk of a more serious injury. ... Yankees RHP Nathan Eovaldi underwent surgery in New York on Friday to repair his UCL and right flexor tendon. It's the second time Eovaldi has undergone Tommy John surgery and he could miss up to 18 months. ... Despite losing 12 of their last 14 games, the Angels have fared well at home, going 12-5 in the last 17 contests in Anaheim. ... With 94 runs scored this season, OF Mike Trout stands to become the second player all-time to log 100 runs five times prior to their age-25 season (Alex Rodriguez is the other). ... Angels 3B Yunel Escobar's .320 batting average ranks second in the AL behind Houston's Jose Altuve (.363). Escobar's 140 hits are the most in a season by an Angels' 3B since Chone Figgins' 180 in 2009.