The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Saunders pitches Angels to 5-2 win over Yankees

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Joe Saunders throws against the New York Yankees in the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

ENLARGE PHOTO

Los Angeles Angels' Bobby Abreu, left, scores on Vladimir Guerrero's hit as New York Yankees' Jose Molina fields the throw in the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

ENLARGE PHOTO

New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte sits in the dugout in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

ENLARGE PHOTO

Weather already postponing games for Tuesday, Feb. 9
1:52 p.m.
Area teams remain on boys basketball state poll
2/9/10
Browns release WR Stallworth
2/8/10
Daytona ready for Patrick, but is she ready for it?
2/8/10
Snow disrupts Atlantic 10 games
2/8/10
> More sports headlines

By BETH HARRIS, The Associated Press Updated 1:16 AM Tuesday, September 22, 2009

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Saunders pitched into the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Angels prevented the Yankees from wrapping up a playoff spot, beating New York 5-2 on Monday night in a matchup of division leaders.

Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter hit consecutive RBI doubles off Yankees starter Andy Pettitte, and Kendry Morales added a pinch-hit homer.

The Angels earned their 90th victory for the seventh time in nine seasons and reduced their magic number to six for clinching their third consecutive AL West title. The Yankees, who have dropped six of 10, could have secured a postseason spot with a win or a Texas loss at Oakland. The Rangers beat the Athletics 10-3.

Los Angeles has won four of five and remained a season-best 7½ games ahead of Texas. The Angels moved within 4½ games of New York in the race for the best record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

The Yankees, looking for their 14th playoff berth in 15 years, stayed five games ahead of Boston in the AL East because the Red Sox blew a pair of six-run leads in a 12-9 loss at Kansas City.

New York missed the postseason last year in Joe Girardi's first season managing the team. The Yankees have squandered a pair of chances to clinch at least the AL wild card, losing the past two days to the Mariners and Angels.

Saunders (14-7) gave up two runs and seven hits in 8 1-3 innings, struck out three and walked none inwinning his fifth consecutive decision and sixth in his last seven. After the first inning, the left-hander didn't allow a runner past second until Alex Rodriguez homered leading off the seventh.

Saunders left after giving up a one-out single to Rodriguez in the ninth and tipped his cap to acknowledge a standing ovation from the crowd of 38,667.

Brian Fuentes got two outs for his 44th save in 51 chances.

Pettitte (13-7) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, struck out three and walked two in losing for the first time in 10 starts. New York skipped the left-hander's previous turn in the rotation because he had a tired shoulder.

Pettitte departed a game with the Yankees trailing for the first time since July 11, also in Anaheim, a span of 13 starts. He lost for the first time since a 6-4 defeat on July 25 against Oakland.

The Angels led 2-0 on consecutive RBI doubles by Guerrero and Hunter with two outs in the first. Guerrero doubled in Bobby Abreu, who singled, and then Guerrero scored on Hunter's double to nearly the same spot in right-center.

Erick Aybar made it 3-0 in the fifth with a grounder past a diving Rodriguez at third that scored Robb Quinlan, who walked.

Rodriguez spoiled Saunders' shutout bid with his 66th career homer against the Angels, the most of any player against the team.

Morales, batting for Quinlan in the seventh, sent his 31st homer to left field off Brian Bruney, making it 4-1. Juan Rivera's RBI double in the eighth scored Guerrero, who singled off Jonathan Albaladejo.

The Yankees scored a run in the eighth on Hideki Matsui's first career pinch-hit homer. He sent a 1-2 pitch from Saunders into center field.

NOTES: The Yankees have a major league-leading 34 wins against left-handers. ... The Angels are 33-15 against lefties this season.

(Angels 5, Yankees 2; SUBS lede to correct day of week)

___

September 22, 2009 05:13 AM EDT

Share this article