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Weaver shoots for third straight win in opener vs. Yanks

(SportsNetwork.com) - Jered Weaver will try to keep his unbeaten streak intact when the LA Angels of Anaheim begin a three-game series versus the visiting New York Yankees Monday at Angel Stadium.

Weaver began the season 0-2 with a 5.79 earned run average through three starts, but has bounced back in the past three outings, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA across 17 1/3 innings. Weaver is coming off last Tuesday's 6-4 win over Cleveland in which he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

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The right-hander has given up just four runs during his current unbeaten run and will face the Yankees for the 14th time. Through the first 13 starts against New York, Weaver is 6-4 to go with a 5.93 ERA.

Anaheim is hoping to bounce back during its nine-game homestand (4-2) and dropped two of three to the rival Texas Rangers over the weekend. The Angels suffered an embarrassing 14-3 loss on Sunday, as Tyler Skaggs struggled in 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs and eight hits.

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"They were hitting the pitches I was throwing. I started falling behind in counts. I wasn't throwing the strikes I wanted to throw," Skaggs said. "I'll erase this and put it behind me."

Kevin Jepsen permitted three runs in relief and Nick Maronde allowed five unearned in the ninth.

Erick Aybar had three hits, including a home run, and Albert Pujols went deep for the 10th time this season. Pujols is tied with Miami's Giancarlo Stanton for second in the major leagues in home runs. Jose Abreu of the White Sox has 12 this season.

The Yankees will leave the Bronx for six games against the Angels and Milwaukee Brewers, and have a 7-6 road record.

New York was aiming for a series win over the Tampa Bay Rays, but dropped a 5-1 decision in Sunday's rubber match. CC Sabathia lost another home start and was reached for all five runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

"I just didn't have the stuff," Sabathia said after the Yankees' fourth loss in five games. "My shoulder was flying up and I couldn't get a feel for my changeup. Fastball was all over the place. It's frustrating, not being able to put us in a good position to win."

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Brett Gardner had a team-high two hits, Yangervis Solarte drove in the lone run and Derek Jeter finished 0-for-4. Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran were also hitless in four at-bats for the Yankees.

Jeter has just two hits in his last five games, while Ellsbury totaled eight in his previous three. Alfonso Soriano needs three hits to have 1,000 in each league. He will become the seventh player to achieve the feat.

The Yankees had hit at least one home run in the past six games.

David Phelps will be making his first start of 2014 Monday and has no record and a 3.86 earned run average in nine relief appearances. In three career games (1 start) against the Angels, Phelps is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

Phelps' previous start was July 4, 2013 at Minnesota and he hasn't toed the rubber since an April 23 loss at Boston. The Yankees are 11-4 in the last 15 games the right-hander has started and are 14-9 overall in his 23 starts.

New York took two of three games versus the Angels in the Bronx from April 25-27 this season after going 4-3 in the 2013 series. The Yankees are 6-2 in the past eight meetings with the Halos.

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[SportsNetwork.com]

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