Anaheim, CA - If the road to the World Series goes through Anaheim, then the New York Yankees might want to take a different route. The Angels continued their Torre-era domination with a 12-7 victory taking the first two games of this weekend series. The Angels have scored 18 runs and collected 32 hits off Yankees' pitching in the two contests.

The Angels have won 7-of-10 games this season. The Yankees have one more chance to avoid a sweep by the Halos.

Howie Kendrick just missed hitting for the cycle as he went 4-for-4 and Garret Anderson drove in four runs to lead the Angels to their 55th win in 106 games since Joe Torre took the reigns as Yankees' manager. The game was a touchy one with hitters from both sides being buzzed by inside pitches.

In addition to having the regular season advantage the Angels hold a 2-0 lead in playoff match ups. The Yankees dropped ALDS series in 2002 and 2005 to the Halos.

"We might have won a couple more games over the years, but I think `equally matched' is probably a good term to use," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said to reporters after the game. "I mean, I'd hate to play them 162 times, but we've held our own against them. Anytime you have a bullpen like that and some guys who can swing the bats, you're going to hold your own with a lot of clubs."

Ervin Santana continued to pitch effectively against New York. Santana (13-7) was passable on Saturday allowing five runs - four earned - on seven hits while striking out five and walking three.

It's been surmised that the Yankees have had an emotional letdown since sweeping their arch-nemesis the Boston Red Sox in a five-game series last weekend. The Yankees have lost three in a row and four of their last five since leaving Boston.

"It's always difficult over 162 games, but at this time of year it shouldn't be difficult," Derek Jeter told the media. "I'm talking about getting up for games and being ready to go every day. That shouldn't be an issue now. It is natural to have some sort of a letdown, but I don't think that's the reason why we've been getting beat.

"We've been playing good, but we've just been getting beat. It's not like we gave them anything. Anaheim always plays us tough, so it's not like we're going through the motions."

Trouble began in the fifth inning when with one on and one out Santana hit Jeter with an inside pitch above the left elbow. It was the second time in two games Jeter had been plunked. Reliever Brian Bruney buzzed Vladimir Guerrero with an inside pitch in the bottom of the inning, and then threw behind Juan Rivera. Rivera visibly upset had to be calmed down by catcher Sal Fasano and home plate umpire Tim McClelland. McClelland issued warnings to both benches and no further incidents took place.

"Everybody needs to be protected," Bruney (0-1) said to reporters. "These guys go to war for us every day, so you've got to protect every one of your guys. Obviously he was upset, but that's baseball." Alex Rodriguez continued to have problems at the plate. He batted second behind Johnny Damon after Torre moved his line up around in an attempt to kick start his struggling third baseman. The experiment failed as A-Rod went 0-for-5, including three strikouts leaving three men on base. Rodriguez is 0-for-10 in the series, including seven punch outs. He has struck out 13 times in his last 23 at bats.

When asked if he was going to bat Rodriguez in the 2-hole again Torre replied to reporters, "I don't know what I'm going to do. I'll probably come up with another brainstorm." Rodriguez tried everything. He wore raised socks and used Robinson Cano's bat.

Guerrero had three hits in the game and came within a home run of hitting for the cycle. He was intentionally walked in his last at bat. Guerrero's RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh triggered a three-run inning to put the Angels ahead 9-5. Guerrero also had an RBI single in the first.

After Damon made it a 9-7 ball game in the top of the eighth, with a two-run home run off Scot Shields, Scioscia called upon closer Francisco Rodriguez to get the final four outs to record his 36th save.

The Angels scored three more runs in the bottom of frame to make the final score 12-7. Orlando Cabrera had an RBI double off Ron Villone. Guerrero walked and moved to third on Garret Anderson's RBI single. Rivera doubled home Guerrero and Anderson.

The Yankees tied the score at 1-1 in the second when Robinson Cano hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Bobby Abreu who led off with a double.

Anderson's two-run home run in the bottom of the third gave the Angels a 3-1 lead.

The Yankees got a run back in the top of the fourth when Jason Giambi scored on Melky Cabrera's infield single to short.

Mike Napoli put the Angels ahead 5-2 with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth.

The Yankees continued to answer back as Jason Giambi hit a two-run double in the top of the fifth to pull the Yankees to within a run at 5-4. Giambi left the game in the seventh for a pinch hitter as he was suffering from dehydration.

Torre said to reporters later, "He was cramped up in his legs, his arms and his legs -- the whole nine yards. He was a mummy down there."

The Yankees tied the score in the sixth on Jorge Posada's pinch hit sacrifice fly.

Corey Lidle was rudely welcomed to the Yankees-Angels rivalry. Lidle was chased after 3-2/3 innings allowing five earned runs on nine hits. Lidle struck out one and walked two.

The Yankees and Angels conclude their series Sunday with a 3:35 p.m. EDT start. Rookie Jeff Karstens (0-0, 4.76) will face Joe Saunders (4-1, 3.06). Karstens made his major league debut on Aug. 22 against the Seattle Mariners. Karstens got an ND as he lasted 5-2/3 innings allowing three earned runs in the process.

Notes: Vladimir Guerrero's hitting streak reached 13 games Saturday....Giambi's two RBI give him 105 for the season....Cano was tended to in his 5th at bat after getting a sunflower seed lodged in his throat. He was given a drink to clear it....Torre said he doesn't expect to use Mariano Rivera for more than one inning the rest of the season.