ANAHEIM, Calif., July 30 (UPI) -- Andy Pettitte worked eight effective innings Tuesday night to help the New York Yankees beat Anaheim, 6-2.
For Pettitte, it was his career-high eighth straight victory.
New York, which has not lost three straight since May 27, opened a nine-game road trip with a win in Boston on Friday, but lost the final two games of that series.
Pettitte (13-6), who has not lost since June 8, helped the Yankees avoid another defeat by yielding two runs and nine hits while taking advantage of some early run support.
New York scored four runs after two were out in the first inning. Rookie Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada had back-to-back RBI singles and Robin Ventura added a two-run base hit.
Anaheim starter Kevin Appier (7-7) was lifted after Ventura's hit, making it his shortest outing since May 13, 1996 with Kansas City. It was the fourth time the 15-year veteran has failed to get out of the first inning.
