Angels’ walk-off victory ends Yanks’ winning streak

The only thing Mark Trumbo had to worry about Monday night after hitting a game-winning home run leading off the ninth inning against Cory Wade was to avoid the injury teammate Kendrys Morales two years ago. The Angels have toned down their walk-off celebrations since then but still greeted Trumbo jubilantly as he crossed the plate.

Technically, that was the moment the Yankees lost, 9-8, ending their five-game winning streak while the Angels continued their stretch of success to seven games and got to the .500 level (25-25) for the first time since April 9 when they were 2-2. In reality, the Yankees began losing this game in the first inning when they took a 3-0 lead and Angels starter Jered Weaver, their ace, had to come out of the game due to a lower back injury.

The Angels could have sulked their way through this one, but they jumped all over Phil Hughes for four runs and five hits to begin the see-saw battle that went on all night. Give the Yankees credit for coming back from an 8-5 deficit to tie the score with a three-run seventh, but they lost a chance to go ahead again in the ninth by stranding the bases loaded.

Russell Martin, who had doubled in the tying runs in the seventh, nearly put the Yanks ahead in the ninth with a single up the middle, but shortstop Erick Aybar made a sterling stop to keep the ball from going into the outfield that would have allowed Mark Teixeira to score rather than have to stop at second. Aybar had made a costly error in the first inning but got a game saver there. Derek Jeter ended the threat by hitting into a fielder’s choice with Aybar making another good play by gloving first baseman Albert Pujols’ high throw and tagging the bag at second just ahead of Martin.

Trumbo, who absolutely clobbered a 1-1 changeup from Wade, had a big night. He also doubled and tripled, which meant that he was a single away from the cycle, usually the easiest of the four hits to get. Trumbo’s triple was the result of Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher colliding while chasing the ball in right field. Fortunately, neither was hurt.

Granderson slugged his 15th home run, his first this year someplace other than Yankee Stadium or Camden Yards. Mark Teixeira also continued his torrid hitting with a perfect night – his ninth home run, a single and three walks. Over his past four games, Tex has 10-for-16 (.625) with three doubles, four home runs and nine RBI to take over the team lead with 30. His slugging percentage over that stretch is an ungodly 1.563. His batting average has gone from .226 to .263. That slow start of his is definitely over.