Yankees Have Rough Night, Drop First of Four to Halos

The New York Yankees started the weekend series off on the wrong foot, losing to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 12-6 on Thursday night.

Andy Pettitte started for the Yankees. He went 5.1 innings, gave up a total of nine runs on 11 hits, walked three and struck out four. Jon Garland started for the Angels. Garland tossed six innings, gave up three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out three.

The Halos got half of their runs in the top of the third inning. Torii Hunter clobbered a three-run homer, his 18th of the year, scoring himself, Chone Figgins, and Mark Teixeira.

Later in the inning, former Yankee Juan Rivera left the yard for the fifth time this year, scoring himself, Garrett Anderson, and Howie Kendrick.

The Bombers answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer from Bobby Abreu, his 14th of the year, and third big fly in two games.

With the score at 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Melky Cabrera scored on an RBI single from Johnny Damon, cutting the lead to 6-2.

In the top of the sixth, the Angels put four more runs on the board. Figgins hit an RBI single to score Erick Aybar, and Vladimir Guerrero smacked yet another three-run shot to score himself, Figgins, and Aybar, giving Los Angeles a 10-2 lead.

The Yankees got a run back in the bottom of the seventh with a solo homer by Xavier Nady, his 15th of the year, making the score 10-3.

In the top of the eighth, the Angels poured on two more runs. Aybar tripled to score Figgins, and Teixeira singled to score Aybar and give the Halos a solid 12-3 cushion.

In the bottom of the ninth, New York mounted some offense. Damon walked with the bases loaded to score Nady. Derek Jeter then grounded into a force out at second base, and Wilson Betemit crossed the plate making the score 12-5.

The Yanks got one more run off the bat of Abreu, who grounded into a force out to score Cabrera.

The Yankees' rally was too late, as the Angels went on to win the game.

Garland got the win and improves to 10-6, while Pettitte took the loss and falls to 12-8.

The newest Yankee Ivan Rodriguez went 1-3 in his debut, and was called out at home plate on a blown call. He was clearly safe at the dish, but was called out by home plate umpire Ed Hickox.

Tomorrow the Yankees will look to rebound from tonight's loss, while Anaheim looks to keep rolling.

The Yankees and Angels resume the series tomorrow night at 7:05 ET.

New York will start Sidney Ponson (6-2, 4.59 ERA), and Anaheim will go with Ervin Santana (11-5, 3.57 ERA).