Teixeira had a fabulous day at the plate, belting two of the Yankees three home runs. His first came in the third inning, a solo shot to right field, extending the Yankee lead 2–0.
The Angels roared back in the bottom half of the frame with some home run power from their own. First-baseman Mark Trumbo led off the inning with a solo shot to center field, cutting the lead to just one run. Maicer Izturis tied the score at 2 on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Nick Swisher, who could not get the ball in on time.
Teixeira stepped up again in the 5th and ripped his second homer, a two- run blast to deep right field, breaking the tie and giving the Yankees a 4–2 lead. It is his 30th multi-home-run game of the year, and his 18th homer of the year. He is second in the AL in home runs, trailing Toronto superstar Jose Bautista by two.
Right fielder Nick Swisher added the exclamation point in the top of the eighth with a solo home run to right field, his fifth of the season.
Bartolo Colon was effective in his return to Anaheim, the second time since his departure from the Angels in 2009. He gave up three runs on six hits over 5.1 innings, with four strike-outs and two walks.
His Angels counterpart, Joel Pineiro was unsuccessful yet again in trying for his 100th career win. This marked the fifth game in a row that he tried for the feat. He scattered nine hits over 6.2 innings, giving up four runs, including the two crucial home runs to Teixeira.
Among the 43,000-plus in attendance was former Angles and Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott, who was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Abbott’s finest moment came in Yankee pinstripes on Sept. 4, 1993, when he threw his first, and only career no-hitter.
The Yankees will head home from this road trip winning two of three series, for a record of 6–3. They will take Monday off before starting a three-game series against the rival Red Sox in the Bronx on Tuesday.
