Yankees End Skid, Halt Halos

After the Clippers defeated the Bombers in the 62nd annual Old Timer's Game, the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 8-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Mike Mussina was the starter for the Yankees today. Mussina pitched great, going seven innings, allowing two runs, only one of them earned, on two hits, walked two and struck out five. Mussina retired the last 17 batters he faced.

Jered Weaver pitched for the Angels. Weaver threw five innings, allowed six earned runs on eight hits, walked one, struck out five, and gave up four home runs to the Yankees.

In the top of the second, the Angels scored their two runs. Garrett Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr. scored on what should have been an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play, but the Angels were helped out by a throwing error by second baseman Wilson Betemit.

Betemit immediately redeemed himself in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer, his fifth of the year, to score himself and Xavier Nady.

The Yankees scored two runs and took the lead in the bottom of the third. Derek Jeter grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Jose Molina scored from third, giving the Yanks a 3-2 lead.

Later in the inning, Bobby Abreu continued his hot hitting, crushing a solo home run, his 15th of the year, giving the Yanks a 4-2 lead after three innings.

The Yankees added another run in the bottom of the fifth with a home run from Molina, his first of the year.

Alex Rodriguez led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, his 24th of the year and 542nd of his career.

The Yankees added insurance in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jeter hit an RBI single to score Molina, and Abreu grounded into a 4-6 put out to score Johnny Damon.

With an 8-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Brian Bruney made his return to pitching after a foot injury that kept him sidelined since late April. Bruney retired the side to nail down a Yankee win.

Mussina picked up the win and is now 14-7 on the campaign.

Weaver lost and his record is now an even 9-9.

The Yankees will look for a series split while the Angels look to take the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 ET.

Darrell Rasner (5-8, 4.92 ERA) will face John Lackey (9-2, 2.93 ERA) in tomorrow's series finale.