NEW YORK - Mark Teixeira hit a two-run triple on a play that caused Angels center fielder Torii Hunter to lose a shoe then doubled to start the go-ahead rally in the eighth inning that led the New York Yankees over Los Angeles, 5-3, last night in a possible playoff preview.
"I think sometimes people look at the Angels and they don't give them enough credit for how good they are. This is a very good team and they've been a very good team for a long time," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I think it's important to beat them."
New York broke a 3-3 tie when pinch-runner Brett Gardner took third as part of a double steal and came home when catcher Mike Napoli bounced the throw past third baseman Chone Figgins for an error. Robinson Cano added a run-scoring single, and Mariano Rivera finished to reach 40 saves for the first time in four years and the seventh time in his career.
The Angels' Vladimir Guerrero and New York's Nick Swisher homered in the makeup of a May 3 rainout to raise the total at new Yankee Stadium to 217 - two more than were ever hit in a season at the original ballpark across the street.
New York opened a 7 1/2-game lead over second-place Boston in the East with 17 to play. The Yankees also took a six-game lead over the Angels for home-field advantage through the postseason.
With the score tied in the eighth, Teixeira doubled off Jered Weaver (15-6) with one out, and Alex Rodriguez walked. Darren Oliver relieved, Gardner ran for Teixeira, and the Yankees went ahead when the runners stole on a 1-1 pitch to Hideki Matsui.
Weaver gave up five runs, eight hits and four walks in 71/3 innings, and Joba Chamberlain allowed one run and four hits in four innings and was pulled after 67 pitches. After limiting his pitch count to as few as 35 in recent starts, the Yankees are letting him build back up gradually.
Los Angeles 010 010 010–3 8 1
New York 001 020 02x–5 9 0
Los Angeles AB R H BI Avg. New York AB R H BI Avg.
Figgins 3b 4 0 0 1 .300 Jeter ss 3 0 0 0 .330
M.Izturis 2b 5 0 0 0 .297 Damon lf 4 1 0 0 .284
B.Abreu rf 4 1 1 0 .299 Teixeira 1b 4 0 3 2 .285
Guerrero dh 4 1 3 1 .301 3-Gardner pr-cf 0 1 0 0 .272
2-T.Evans pr-dh 0 0 0 0 --- A.Rodriguez 3b 2 1 0 0 .286
Tor.Hunter cf 3 0 2 0 .312 H.Matsui dh 3 0 1 0 .275
K.Morales 1b 4 0 1 0 .306 Posada c 3 0 0 0 .280
J.Rivera lf 2 0 0 0 .290 4-F.Guzman pr 0 0 0 0 ---
1-Pettit pr 0 0 0 0 --- J.Molina c 0 0 0 0 .243
