On the Yankees beat

Yankees (63-52) v. Angels (71-43)

The Yankees roll into LA having split the series against Texas and nursing some big-time injuries up and down the lineup and rotation. And you only need to look as far as today's starting pitcher to know that the Yankees are trying to hold down the fort until the big guns - specifically Joba Chamberlain - make their way back onto the team.

Starting tonight is Ian Kennedy (0-3, 7.41 ERA). The Yanks remain high on Kennedy despite a somewhat disastrous early season that ended in injury and a demotion. He's been successful in Triple-A, going 4-2 with a 2.14 ERA in nine games. Despite his success, this is his first major league start since late May and the Angels, arguably the best team in the major leagues right now, will likely prove to be something of an unaccommodating welcoming committee.

Kennedy will be facing the formidable Jered Weaver (9-9, 4.37 ERA). Last time Weaver faced the Yankees, he looked absolutely unhittable - for the first inning and change, that is. He struck out the first four batters to face him before allowing our homeruns, for six runs and eight hits. He was pulled in the sixth inning. Weaver has the stuff to stifle the Yankees completely but, as his record and ERA indicate, is literally hit or miss.

Watch out for: Xavier Nady. He tore the Angels apart the last time these two met, going 7-for-11 with two homers and seven RBIs over a three-game span.

Laura Albanese here with the liveblog...

FINAL: 10-5, ANGELS.

Top of the ninth
Cano grounds out to second. Cabrera chops the ball to second for the out. Wilson Betemit hitting for Molina; he singles to left. Damon singles to left and Betemit moves to second. Jeter grounds out to first to end the game.

Bottom of the eighth
Hunter strikes out swinging. Anderson grounds out to first and Kendrick grounds out to the pitcher and Giambi digs it out on the other side.

Top of the eighth
A-Rod strikes out looking. Giambi grounds out to short right and Nady flies out to right.

Bottom of the seventh
Hunter drills a home run to deep left. Kendrick singles to left and Rasner is out. PITCHING CHANGE: Brian Bruney. Rivera singles up the middle and Kendrick pulls into second. Reggie Willits runs or Rivera. Mathis lines a double down the leftfield line. Kendrick scores and Rivera goes to third. Figgins strikes out looking. Passed ball my Molina. Rivera scores and Aybar walks on the pitch. Teixeira singles up the middle and Mathis scores. Aybar moves first to third. Guerrero grounds out to second.

SCORE: 10-5, ANGELS

Top of the seventh
Jose Arredondo pitching. Damon grounds out to short. Jeter singles up the middle to put the tying run on board. Abreu grounds into the 5-3-4 dp.

Bottom of the sixth
Aybar grounds out to second. Teixeira flies out to Cano in shallow right. Guerrero strikes out swinging.

Top of the sixth
Giambi strikes out swinging. Nady lines a solo home run into left. Cano lines a triple off the top of the rightfield wall. Cabrera grounds out to first and Cano scores. Molina grounds out to first.

SCORE: 6-5, ANGELS

Bottom of the fifth
Kendrick singles softly to center. Rivera flies out to right. Mathis loops the ball to shallow right and Cano makes the running, over-the-shoulder catch for the out. Figgins grounds out to third.

Top of the fifth
Jeter grounds the ball sharply to second for the out. Abreu strikes out swinging. A-Rod pops out to Teixeira in shallow right.

Bottom of the fourth
Aybar grounds out to short and Teixeira strikes out swinging. Guerrero smacks the ball to right, that bounces up into the crowd for a double. Hunter singles through the hole in left to score Guerrero. Anderson strikes out looking.

SCORE: 6-3, ANGELS

Top of the fourth
Cabrera grounds out to third. Molina flies out to center and Damon flies out to left.

Bottom of the third
Teixeira rips a double to the rightfield corner. Guerrero singles to right; Teixeira scores to tie the game. Vlad moves to second on the throw. Hunter taps a single towards the mound, it bounces off and eats Jeter alive. They score it an infield single and Vlad goes to third. Anderson dumps a single right inside the foul line in left. Guerrero scores and Hunter goes first to third. Kendrick singles to right; Guerrero scores. Anderson moves to second. Kennedy is done. PITCHING CHANGE: Darrell Rasner. Rivera pops out to shallow right for the first out of the inning. Mathis flies out to left. Figgins strikes out looking on the slider.

SCORE: 5-3, ANGELS

Top of the third
Jose Molina pops out. Damon singles to left. Jeter flies out to right, Damon holds. Abreu lines the ball to the leftfield corner and bounces into the stands for a ground-rule double. Weaver walks A-Rod intentionally to face Giambi. Giambi walks on a 3-1 pitch to force in a run. Nady chops the ball just inside the third base line. Figgins lets it roll, but it stays fair and dies near the bag; Abreu scores. Nady is on first with an infield single. Cano grounds out.

SCORE: 3-2, YANKS

Bottom of the second
Howie Kendrick doubles off the base of the wall. Juan Rivera lies out to the warning track in center and Kendrick tags up and moves to third. Jeff Mathis walks. Figgins strikes out swinging. Aybar grounds out to second.

Top of the second
A-Rod hits a solo home run to left. Giambi strikes out swinging on the change. Nady pops out to center and Cano loops a single to center. Melky Cabrera pops out to third.

SCORE: 2-1, ANGELS

Bottom of the first
Chone Figgins grounds out to short. Erick Aybar singles to right and Teixeira grounds into the fielder's choice. He's safe at first. Guerrero lines a single to center and Teixeira moves to second. Hunter rockets the ball to left-center. Damon crashes into the wall (taking out a piece of it so that it swings open) and goes down. The ball hits off the wall and two runs score. Hunter pulls in at second. Garret Anderson flies out to Jeter in shallow left.

SCORE: 2-0, ANGELS

Top of the first
Johnny Damon pops out to shallow right. Jeter flies out to DEEP center and Torii Hunter makes a nice running grab to rob him of extra bases. Bobby Abreu flies out to left.