Angels 7-1 Win Over Yankees Breaks Three-Game Losing Streak

This is going to be on of the big rivalries of the season.

At the Los Angeles Times, "C.J. Wilson throws struggling Angels a lifeline, beats Yankees."

At the New York Times, "Boos Rain on Hughes After Shaky Start Against Angels":

The glow emanating from the Yankees’ home opener Friday quickly dimmed Saturday. The Los Angeles Angels exacted their revenge on Phil Hughes, whose second sloppy start revived questions about his place in the rotation.

One day after being shut out by Hiroki Kuroda, the Angels fired back with six runs against Hughes, who was knocked out in the fourth inning having allowed two home runs among the eight hits he yielded. Before it was over the Angels would tack on another run for a 7-1 win at Yankee Stadium that halted the Yankees’ winning streak at four games.

Howie Kendrick had three hits off Hughes, including a three-run homer in the fourth that landed in the second deck in left field. The blast signaled the end of a disappointing day for both Hughes and many of the 46,829 in attendance, many of whom booed him as he left the mound.

Hughes had an impressive spring but his two ineffective outings, coupled with a poor season last year that included time on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, are already raising questions about his long-term viability. Manager Joe Girardi, however, bristled at suggestions that Hughes was in danger of losing his starting spot after only two outings.

“It’s April 14 and we’re talking about our rotation and we’re 4-4?” he said. “We’re not 0-8. People are kind of getting a little bit ahead of themselves.”

But the questions were not posed in a vacuum. With Andy Pettitte continuing to build arm strength in the minor leagues, and Michael Pineda (left shoulder tendinitis) expected back next month, one or two Yankees starters could lose spots in the rotation. Hughes was not the most likely candidate coming into the season and still may not be. But he did nothing to help his cause Saturday.

He allowed six earned runs in three and a third innings, walking two and striking out six. In his previous start last Sunday against Tampa Bay, Hughes held the Rays to two runs in four and two-thirds innings. That was not a good game for Hughes, who ran his pitch count to 99. But that start was not as bad as this one.

Hughes also surrendered a two-run homer in the second inning to Chris Iannetta, who tucked a looping drive into the right-field corner.

“I felt my stuff was pretty good,” Hughes said. “But I wasn’t locating, and there were a couple that hurt me really bad.”

Game 3 will air tonight on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.