The Angels took a tie into the ninth and Chone Figgins delieved the winning hit to get a sweep of the Yankees, their first time sweepin the Bronx Bombers at home since 1995.
Coming into the game, Andy Pettitte was 17-1 in starts when his team is in danger of a sweep. The Angels didn’t hand him that second loss, but scored three runs off him including another in the ninth to complete the sweep. After the Yankees scored two in the first, the Angels regained the lead with three runs in the third. Gary Matthews, Jr. singled to snap an 0 for 16 skid and took third on Mike Napoli’s double. Chone Figgins then singled in Matthews, Jr. and Napoli scored on Erick Aybar’s single. Pettitte then balked to move Figgins to third, who scored on Teixeira’s sacfly. With a 3-3 tie in the ninth, Howie Kendrick led off with a single off closer Mariano Rivera. Kendrick took second on Napoli’s walk and Figgins drove a hit through the right side off the first pitch for the walk-off win.
Joe Saunders has now allowed three runs or less in his last 10 straight starts, but earned the no-decision on Sunday. He had six strikeouts and left after seven innings, escaping the seventh when Kendrick made an over-the-shoulder grab to end the Yankees’ threat. Jose Arrendondo held the eighth and K-Rod got the win, pitching a perfect ninth inning with three strikeouts.
The Angels get Monday off before hosting Seattle for a short two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday. Jon Garland will take the mound and shoot for his 11th win, he is 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA lifetime against Seattle. He will face former Angel Jarrod Washburn, who is 5-11 with a 4.76 ERA. and is 0-2 lifetime against his former team. The Angels will also be without Reggie Willits, who was sent to the DL after suffering a mild concussion during Friday’s game when he collided with Brian Bruney at homeplate. Sean Rodriguez was brought up from Salt Lake to fill the roster spot.
