Trailing 4-0 early in the ball game after an erratic Joe Saunders allowed five runs in five innings, the Angels knew they would need some of the bats to come alive if they were going to spoil Mark Teixeira’s return to Anaheim.

Luckily, they did find some power in the way of Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar, who both hit late inning home runs to power the Angels to a 10-6 victory over the visiting New York Yankees.

After Bobby Abreu’s RBI single in the fifth cut New York’s lead to just 3, Morales then hit the first pitch he saw from Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain over the center field wall for his 15th home run of the year, tying the game at 5 apiece. The Halos added two more runs the next inning when Chone Figgins tripled in Erick Aybar and Bobby Abreu hit a single to score Figgins.

But it was in the bottom of the seventh, where the Angels firmly cemented their lead over the Yankees, as Erick Aybar launched a fastball to deep right field for a three run homer, just his third of the season.

Game MVP

Despite a much smaller salary, Kendry Morales looked like the superior first baseman over New York’s Mark Teixeira. Morales went 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBIs. Teixeira had just one hit in two at bats.

Game LVP

Joe Saunders continues to experience a tough stretch of the seas, as he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings pitched. 

Games Notes

W Jason Bulger (4-1)

L Mark Melancon (0-1)

S Brian Fuentes (25)

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