ANGELS, ANDERSON CLUB YANKEES : ANGELS 14, NEW YORK 3.

Byline: Associated Press

Garret Anderson hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Angels beat the New York Yankees 14-3, handing the visitors their fifth straight loss.

The Yankees' lead in the AL East, which was 12 games on July 29, remains 4 games over Baltimore after their 13th loss in 19 games. The Orioles, who lost in the bottom of the ninth to Seattle, missed another opportunity to tighten the race.

Jim Edmonds added three RBI for the Angels, including a two-run homer. Gary DiSarcina had three hits and scored twice for the Angels, which matched its season high in runs.

The Yankees, who were involved in a brawl with the Mariners on Wednesday night, didn't get their first hit against rookie Pep Harris until Joe Girardi hit a two-run homer with one out in the fifth.

Anderson's grand slam in the first, and Edmonds' 25th homer and Randy Velarde's RBI double in the fourth, staked Harris to a 7-0 lead in his second career start.

Anderson also had a two-run double in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth.

Harris gave up three runs and three hits in 3-2/3 innings. Rookie Mike Holtz (1-0) relieved him and earned his first major-league victory, retiring all seven batters he faced.

Velarde led off the first inning with a single against New York starter Wally Whitehurst (1-1), who then loaded the bases with a pair of one-out walks. Anderson drove the next pitch to center field for his 11th homer of the season.

The Angels increased their margin to 12-3 with a five-run fifth, the highlight of which were Anderson's two-run double and RBI singles by Edmonds and J.T. Snow. All three were given up by Graeme Lloyd, whose stint included a bizarre wild pitch that sailed far from home plate.

Whitehurst allowed four runs, four hits and two walks. He was inserted into the Yankees' rotation last Saturday to replace David Weathers, who was optioned to Triple-A Columbus after going 0-2 with a 14.81 ERA in four starts.

Notes: Anderson's seven RBI were one shy of the club record, set by Leon Wagner and Lee Thomas in 1961 and equaled by Don Baylor in 1979. . . . It was the seventh consecutive time the Yankees lost the opener of a series on the road. . . . Angels' right fielder Tim Salmon sat out the game with an ear infection. . . .

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Photo

PHOTO The Angels' Garret Anderson, right, is greeted by tea mmates at the plate after hitting a grand slam.

Associated Press