Yankees Finally Bedevil Angels

Bats Wake Up to Salvage Final Game of Series

The Yankees exploded for 15 runs in their opening night victory over the Oakland Athletics last Monday and basically did nothing the rest of the week. That is until yesterday when they found where the A's and Angels had hidden their hitting shoes. Jorge Posada homered twice and the Yankees had 15 hits as they battered the reigning Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon (0-1) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 10-1.

Posada entered the game just 3-21 with no extra base hits, but highlighted a 5 run second innings with a 3-run blast off of Colon and then took Estaban Yan deep for a solo shot in the fifth. The Yankees also got the pitching they needed from starter Mike Mussina (1-0) who limited the Angels to 1 run on 5 hits in 6 innings of work.

In addition to Posada, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano paced a 15-hit attack with 3 hits each. Rodriguez started off the second innings fireworks with his second home run of the season and his eighth lifetime against Colon. Jason Giambi followed with a single and Hideki Matsui reached on Colon's error. That set the stage for Posada who busted out of his slump with a deep shot to right. Derek Jeter added an RBI double and the Yankees quickly had Colon on the ropes. They delivered the knockout blow one inning later. After a lead off walk to Giambi, Matsui followed with a single through the right side. Posada delivered again, pulling one into the right field corner for an RBI double and sending Colon to the showers. Cano greeted reliever Estaban Yan with a 2-run double to left-center to break the game open.

Chone Figgins RBI single off of Mussina in the fourth would be the only run the Yankees pitching would allow. Kyle Farnsworth, Scott Proctor, and Mariano Rivera followed Mussina with an inning each. It was Rivera's first appearance of the regular season and he showed no ill effects of the layoff.

The Yankees are off today before starting a three game series at home with the Kansas City Royals. Chien-Ming Wang starts the home opener against Darrell May.