Aceves Picks Up First Big League Win

(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Yankees	0	1	0	0	0	3	2	0	1		7	10	1
LA Angels	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0		1	7	1

I don't think we'll be seeing anymore of Darrell Rasner as a starter this year, especially if Alfredo Aceves is going to pitch like this. In seven innings he held the best team in the league to just one run on five hits, while walking none and striking out two. He had good command of his pitches all night, throwing 63 of his 89 pitches for strikes. And as you can see from his low pitch count, he was very efficient.

Brian Bruney pitched a scoreless 8th, and Damaso Marte came on for the 9th, and also did not allow a run.

Offensively the Yankees were led by Alex Rodriguez, who picked up a big three-run homer in the sixth to give the Yankees a 4-0 lead, and Johnny Damon who hit a two-run homer in the 7th, and added a solo shot in the 9th. Xavier Nady got the Yankees on the board, with a RBI double in the 2nd.

Derek Jeter went 2-for-5, and with his first hit of the game passed Babe Ruth on the Yankees all time hit list. He is now all alone at number two behind the Iron Horse Lou Gehrig.

It was a nice win for the Yanks, who desperately need to show some life over these next 18 games. Not to make the playoffs, that won't happen, but at least to show their fans, the league, and themselves, that they can still play some good baseball. Oh, and getting out of fourth place would be nice too.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF-LF	5	2	2	3	0	0	0	.306
Jeter, SS	5	1	2	0	0	1	0	.296
Abreu, RF	4	1	1	0	1	0	2	.298
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	2	2	3	1	0	0	.310
Giambi, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.246
Ransom, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.750
Nady, LF	4	0	2	1	0	1	0	.316
Gardner, CF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.182
Matsui, DH	4	0	0	0	0	2	3	.301
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	2	2	.262
Moeller, C	4	1	1	0	0	0	2	.228
Totals	36	7	10	7	2	7	11
BATTING 2B: Nady (35, Santana). HR: Rodriguez, A (33, 6th inning off Santana, 2 on, 0 out), Damon 2 (14, 7th inning off Santana, 1 on, 1 out; 9th inning off Speier, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 8; Jeter 2; Abreu; Rodriguez, A 5; Nady 3; Moeller. RBI: Nady (87), Rodriguez, A 3 (95), Damon 3 (62). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Moeller 2; Giambi. GIDP: Abreu. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Abreu (11, 2nd base by Santana/Mathis).

ANGELS OFFENSE

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Aceves, A (W, 1-0)	7.0	5	1	1	0	2	0	1.29
Bruney	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2.17
Marte	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4.13

ANGELS PITCHING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Alfredo Aceves (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K - First big league win)

HONORABLE MENTION: Alex Rodriguez (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB) and Johnny Damon (2-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R)

The rubber game of this three game series is this afternoon in Anaheim. Andy Pettitte starts for the Yankees, and he will go up against Dustin Moseley. First Pitch: 3:35 p.m. - TV: YES - Radio: WCBS 880