Murphy Powers Yankees Past Angels

Apr 26, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) slide under the tag of New York Yankees second baseman

(14) for a stolen base in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

A day after the Angels clawed back to the .500 mark with a 13-1 victory over New York, Yankees backup catcher John Ryan Murphy ensured they wouldn’t have a winning record once the series ends. Murphy had three RBIs and hit his first career home run as the Yankees edged the Angels, 4-3.

Hector Santiago flirts with danger every time he steps on the mound. He entered the day averaging 4.9 walks per nine innings, yet limits batters to a .182 batting average with runners in scoring position. Saturday afternoon, Yankees batters exploited it. Santiago loaded the bases in the second and balked to score the tying run, and Murphy followed with a two-run single. The left-hander gave up four runs in just 4 1/3 innings.

Angels relievers banded together to shut out New York through the final three frames. Kevin Jepsen, Nick Maronde, and Michael Kohn pitched 2 2/3 innings and Ernesto Frieri– fresh off blown save last Wednesday- got three quick outs in his first outing since being demoted as a closer.

After hitting homered four times Friday night, Mike Trout continued the trend with a first inning home run. The Halos would only muster one earned run from that point forward, coming on Chris Iannetta’s RBI double that scored Erick Aybar.

Down a run entering the ninth, Trout lined a one-out single up the middle and reached second with his third stolen base of the season. Albert Pujols– entering the at-bat going 8-for-16 with three homers since last Tuesday- flew out to center field and Howie Kendrick struck out to end the game.

With a win tomorrow night, the Angels guarantee a 5-4 record on the nine-game road trip.