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Abreu Homers Off Rivera In 9th To Lead Halos Past Yanks

NEW YORK (AP) — Bobby Abreu hit his second homer of the game, a two-out, two-run shot off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels then pulled a trick to trap Curtis Granderson for the final out to beat the New York Yankees 6-4 Tuesday night.

The Yankees ran themselves out of their last chance. With runners at the corners, two outs and Mark Teixeira up, reliever Jordan Walden faked a pickoff throw to third base. Granderson broke from first and was caught in no man's land, and Walden's throw got him in a rundown.

The Angels, the only American League team with a winning record against the Yankees over the last decade, saddled New York with its first three-game losing streak since early June.

Abreu's drive deep into the right-field seats was only the second homer allowed this season by Rivera (1-2). The Yankees closer faltered for the second straight appearance — he blew a ninth-inning lead Sunday night in Boston.

Abreu connected for his first multihomer game this season and 16th of his career. Once a star for the Yankees, Abreu sat in a golf cart outside the Angels' clubhouse and chatted with some of his former teammates before the game while rain washed away batting practice.

Pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo opened the ninth with a single. Erick Aybar bunted into a forceout, leaving him in an 0-for-24 slump, and stole second base. After Howie Kendrick grounded out, Abreu hit his sixth home run of the season.

Walden worked the ninth for his 26th save in 33 chances. Scott Downs (6-2) got Russell Martin to ground out with two runners on to end the eighth.

The Angels moved a season-high 12 games over .500. They have the AL's best record since mid-June.

Derek Jeter lined a two-out, two-run single over Fernando Rodney's head that made it 4-all in the seventh, and smiled wide as the Angels made a pitching change. That tying hit came right after Brett Gardner finished starter Dan Haren with an RBI single and stole his 22nd straight base.

The Angels scored four times off A.J. Burnett in the sixth for a 4-1 lead. Abreu led off with a low liner for a home run — right fielder Nick Swisher actually broke in a few steps — and three walks loaded the bases with two outs.

Jeff Mathis stepped up batting .180 and took a half-swing at Burnett's first pitch. Plate umpire Chris Guccione ruled it a strike and quickly ejected Angels manager Mike Scioscia for arguing. Scioscia came out to have his say, returned to the dugout and Mathis hit the next pitch on one hop over the center-field wall for a two-run double.

Burnett followed by throwing a wild pitch that let another run score, and was booed when the inning ended. In Burnett's previous start, the Yankees handed him a 13-1 cushion, but the Chicago White Sox chased him before he could last five innings to qualify for the win.

Granderson hit his 29th homer, giving New York a 1-0 lead in the first.

NOTES: Angels RHP Garrett Richards is set to make his major league debut Wednesday night against the Yankees. Richards was 12-2 with 3.06 ERA at Double-A Arkansas. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Angels in the first round in 2009. Richards will fill in while RHP Jered Weaver serves a six-game suspension. "We don't have a ton of information on him," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Rookie Ivan Nova (10-4) will start for New York. He struck out a career-high 10 in his last start vs. the White Sox. ... Jeter was hitting .191 with runners in scoring position and two out when he tied the game. He's now 5 for 8 lifetime against Rodney. ... DH Jorge Posada was still on the bench for the Yankees. "I'm not happy," he said. "I really can't control not being in the lineup." ... Burnett is 0-9 in his last 14 August starts, dating to 2008. ... The Angels' Torii Hunter and Mark Trumbo each tagged up from first base and advanced on long fly balls. ... Yankees RHP Phil Hughes will pitch Saturday vs. Tampa Bay. He was supposed to start this game, but got moved back after pitching in relief Sunday night at Boston. ... The Yankees released Triple-A LHP J.C. Romero this week.

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