KOTCHMAN LEADS AS ANGELS GET DEFENSIVE WIN CONTINUES RUN AT YANKEE STADIUM.Byline: DOUG PADILLA Douglas ("Doug") Padilla (born October 4, 1956 in Oakland, California) is a former middle and long distance runner from the United States, who won the overall Grand Prix 1985 and the World Cup 5000m race in 1985. Staff Writer NEW YORK New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of - Maybe it's the honking horns, the crowded sidewalks and the hot dog carts on every corner. Something about the Big Apple puts some zip into the Angels, who took a bite out Verb 1. bite out - utter; "She bit out a curse" let loose, let out, utter, emit - express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); "She let out a big heavy sigh"; "He uttered strange sounds that nobody could understand" of the New York Yankees  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. yet again in their
opponent's historic ballpark.
Friday's 10-6 victory in the opener of a three-game series exorcised the demon that was a 12-0 thumping by the Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Tigers have played in Comerica Park. on Thursday. The Angels have won nine of their past 14 games in Yankee Stadium • • [ , and since 1996 they lead the series 56-52. They are the only American League American League (AL) One of the two associations of professional baseball teams in the U.S. and Canada designated as major leagues; the other is the National League (NL). team with a winning record against the Yankees in the Joe Torre Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. era.
Add postseason play to those numbers and the Angels are 62-55 in that same span, eliminating the Yankees from the playoffs twice. Yet when manager Mike Scioscia "We've held our own against the Yankees and they are a great club," Scioscia said. "But it's always a dogfight. It's tough. We've been fortunate to hold our own here in New York." Jered Weaver Jered David Weaver (born October 4, 1982 in Northridge, California), is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jered attended college at Long Beach State University where he was the 2004 College Baseball's Golden Spikes Award winner. had the honors in this one, as he improved to 2-0 in two starts in Yankee Stadium. Weaver gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings and had a front-row seat to watch the Casey Kotchman show at first base. Kotchman not only starred with his glove, he hit a home run and matched a career high with three hits. His field work, though, is what earned him the most praise. "Right now we're playing really well on defense, knock on wood," Weaver said. "Our defense has been outstanding. Obviously it helps out the pitchers when they make a great play and it kind of pumps you up as well. Hopefully we can keep that defensive edge on point." Kotchman made no less than five above-average plays to help Weaver. On the very first Yankees batter, Kotchman dived to his right to field a Johnny Damon ground ball and flipped to Weaver at first for the out. In the second inning, Orlando Cabrera threw high to first base, but Kotchman timed his jump perfectly, hauled in the ball and put a tag on Jorge Posada just before he stepped on the bag. In the third inning, Kotchman again teammed with Cabrera to get Alex Rodriguez and possibly save a run. With Hideki Matsui on second base and two outs, Rodriguez hit a hard grounder to Cabrera's right. The Angels shortstop slid as he fielded the ball, got to his feet and threw to first. Kotchman short-hopped the throw after it skidded low off the area where the infield grass meets the dirt. But his best play might have come in the fifth inning when he dived to his left to stop a hard-hit ball by Matsui that was headed toward the right- field corner for extra bases. The worst fielding team in the American League a season ago, the Angels have made huge strides with Kotchman at first base, Gary Matthews Jr. in center and an improved Cabrera. "We have two kids on the right side with (Howie Kendrick) and Kotch, and those guys have worked hard," Scioscia said. "Our right-side defense is terrific and Casey is a big part of that." Kotchman, whose defensive options were limited to first base, outfield and pitcher because he throws left-handed, said he has played first for as long as he can remember. "Defense is always more gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. than offense in my opinion," Kotchman said. "It might be a personal preference but it's more gratifying to save the pitch count and try to take runs off the board from the opposition." The plays helped Weaver to hold back the Yankees until the offense could deliver. Clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Angels broke things open with three runs in the fifth and four more in the seventh, two of which came on Chone Figgins' first home run of the season. doug.padilla@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2731 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) The Angels' Casey Kotchman tosses to Jered Weaver covering first to get Johnny Damon. (2) The Angels' Jered Weaver improved to 2-0 in two starts at Yankee Stadium. Al Bello/Getty Images |
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