GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (70-55) at LA ANGELS (73-51)

Anderson's record night helps Angels throttle Yankees

<h3>LA ANGELS 18, NY YANKEES 9</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Even for someone who has hadthe New York Yankees' number his entire career, Garret Andersonhad a game for the ages.


Anderson belted two homers and set a franchise record with 10RBI as the Los Angeles Angels blasted of Anaheim the New YorkYankees, 18-9, on Tuesday.


Already Anaheim's franchise leader in RBI, Anderson had sufferedthrough a tough month, batting .227 (17-for-75) with one homerun and 12 RBI. However, the Yankees have generally brought outthe best in the 35-year-old, who has hit .311 (137-for-440)with 14 homers and 76 RBI lifetime against New York.

"I guess when I told him (Anderson) that he needs to starthitting with runners in scoring position, he took it to heart,"Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.


Anderson, who was batting just .204 (20-for-98) with runners inscoring position entering this contest, started the Angels'offensive explosion in the first with a two-run double to rightfor a 2-0 lead.


"I was just thinking base hit at that time, so we could get thatearly lead against a team like the Yankees," Anderson said.

After New York posted a run in the top of the second to trim theadvantage in half, the three-time All-Star doubled again toscore Vladimir Guerrero in the bottom of the five-run frame thateventually increased the bulge to 7-2.


"I just got some pitches that I could drive and hit them welltonight," Anderson said.


The 2003 All-Star Game MVP was just getting started. He cappedanother five-run inning in the third, crushing a pitch fromreliever Edwar Ramirez in the third inning for a three-run shot- his first home run in 19 games. After a groundout in hisfourth at-bat the fifth, Anderson belted his eighth career grandslam - another franchise record.


"At that point, what I had done already wasn't on my mind otherthan to put runs on the board," Anderson said.


Anderson had a chance to break the all-time American Leaguerecord of 11 RBI in a game, set by the Yankees' Tony Lazzeri onMay 24, 1936. However, he grounded out to shortstop WilsonBetemit with two outs and two runners on in the bottom of theeighth to end his run with history.


"It still hasn't sunk in yet," Anderson said. "Not until afterthe grand slam (did I realize) that I had a lot of RBI. I justtry to look at the numbers as one game and to not get ahead ofmyself."


Anderson is just the 12th player in major league history to have10 RBI in a game, becoming the oldest player in 63 years toaccomplish the feat, behind only the Yankees' Phil Weintraub,who recorded 11 RBI on April 30, 1944.


In a little bit of irony, the last player to have 10 RBI in asingle game was New York's Alex Rodriguez on April 26, 2005against the Angels.


"It's a great feeling and accomplishment for what he (Anderson)did," Rodriguez said. "He will never forget it."


Despite allowing five runs and five hits over six frames, KelvimEscobar (14-6) used Anderson's record night to grab his 14thwin, making him the second Angel pitcher to reach that markbehind John Lackey's 15. Marc Gwyn allowed two runs over thefinal three innings to record the first save of his career.

"I definitely didn't have my best stuff and you need your beststuff when you face New York, but luckily the offense supportedme tonight," Escobar said.


Mike Mussina (8-9), who owns three of the last four road winsthe Yankees have against Anaheim, surrendered seven runs andseven hits over just 1 2/3 innings. It was the righthander'sshortest outing since September 27, 2005, against the BaltimoreOrioles.


"This was one of my top five worst starts of my career," Mussinasaid.


Rodriguez blasted two solo homers for New York, which fell to4-11 in their last 15 contests at Angel Stadium.


"Just wasn't enough offense for us tonight, but we just have toput this game behind us and get ready for tomorrow to avoid thesweep," Rodriguez said.