Garrett Richards strong, but Angels fall short to Yankees

By foxsports
Published

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mark Teixeira hit a tying homer and Jacoby Ellsbury scored the go-ahead run thanks to a passed ball and wild pitch in the eighth inning, sending the New York Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night.

Masahiro Tanaka struck out a season-high 11, including Mike Trout twice, and overcame an early bout of wildness in a tight pitchers' duel with Angels right-hander Garrett Richards. Neither starter received a decision, leaving both undefeated this year.

The Yankees took two of three in the series and have won 10 of 14 overall.

David Freese homered for the Angels, who went 4-5 on a tough road trip to Detroit, Washington and New York.

Tanaka walked four in 6 1-3 innings against the Angels, who began the day leading the majors in homers. The $155 million rookie was on the hook for his first loss since August 2012 in Japan until Teixeira homered leading off the seventh.

New York broke the tie without a hit in the eighth, a rough inning for Angels catcher Chris Iannetta.

With the score 2-all, Michael Kohn (1-1) walked Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran. Nick Maronde relieved, and both runners advanced on Iannetta's passed ball.

Brian McCann barely stayed alive with a couple of foul tips, and Maronde bounced a breaking ball in front of the plate. The ball ricocheted off Iannetta and far enough away for Ellsbury to score easily.

Adam Warren (1-1) struck out two in 1 2-3 scoreless innings. David Robertson worked the ninth for his fourth save and second in two days.

With a runner on second, Robertson struck out pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez to end it -- seconds before security workers tackled a fan who ran into the outfield.

Richards took a two-hitter and a 2-1 lead into the seventh, when Teixeira launched a 2-2 pitch into the second deck in right field for his second home run since returning from the disabled list last Sunday.

It was Teixeira's first homer from the left side of the plate since June 6, 2013. His season ended nine days later due to a right wrist injury that required surgery.

Freese sent Tanaka's first pitch of the sixth to right-center for his second home run with the Angels since they acquired him from St. Louis in a November trade. The 2011 World Series MVP began the night batting .149 and recently has lost some playing time at third base to Ian Stewart.

Freese was the designated hitter Sunday.

Tanaka had an amazing ratio of 35 strikeouts to two walks in his first four starts, which covered 29 1-3 innings. But he struggled with his command early in this one, walking a batter in each of the first four innings.

Albert Pujols even stared out at the mound after Tanaka backed him off the plate with two straight pitches in the third.

The walks caught up with Tanaka in the fourth, when Erick Aybar led off with a double and scored on an RBI groundout by J.B. Shuck with the bases loaded.

New York tied it in the fifth. A leadoff walk to Teixeira and Brian Roberts' one-out double set up Ichiro Suzuki's run-scoring groundout.

NOTES: Los Angeles called up RHP Mike Morin from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioned OF Brennan Boesch to its top farm team, giving the Angels eight relievers in their shaky bullpen. "Right now I think we can use the extra arm," manager Mike Scioscia said. ... The Angels have led in 10 of their 13 losses. ... Yankees LF Brett Gardner sat out with a sore left foot after he was hit by a pitch Saturday. He was replaced by Suzuki. ... Yangervis Solarte (sore right shoulder) was scratched from New York's lineup about 90 minutes before the first pitch. Roberts was inserted at 2B instead. ... Yankees INF Brendan Ryan (spine) went 2 for 5 with an RBI in his first rehab game with Class-A Tampa. ... Suspended RHP Michael Pineda was slated to throw a bullpen Sunday and a simulated game Tuesday to stay sharp. ... The Yankees are off Monday before Robinson Cano returns to New York with the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. ... The Angels begin a nine-game homestand Monday night with LHP Tyler Skaggs on the mound against Cleveland RHP Justin Masterson.