Angels eye first-ever four-game road sweep of Yankees

The New York Yankees are experiencing massive struggles at the plate and difficult results against the Los Angeles Angels just like they did in the early 2000s.

The Yankees will attempt to avert a four-game sweep and stop their season-worst six-game losing streak on Thursday afternoon when they host the Angels.

New York has scored a total of six runs during its longest slide since dropping nine straight from Aug. 12-22, 2023. The Yankees ended a 30-inning scoreless skid when Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in the second inning on Wednesday, but the hosts finished with three hits in a 3-2 loss.

Cody Bellinger also went deep for the Yankees, who had only three at-bats with runners in scoring position for the second straight game after going 1-for-18 in that area while dropping the series opener on Monday.

The Yankees are hitting .155 (30-for-194) with 59 strikeouts in their skid. New York also is in a 7-11 rut since winning 16 of 20.

"Guys are making pitches," said Yankees captain Aaron Judge, whose major-league-leading average is down to .366 due to a 2-for-25 slump.

"They're doing their job. Sometimes they're faltering, not doing our job, but it's tough to say. I think it just comes down to us not executing, not doing our job, maybe a little passive in certain situations."

The Angels are seeking a team-record sixth straight win against the Yankees in New York. They are on the verge of their first-ever four-game sweep in the Bronx after holding Judge to one hit in 11 at-bats this week.

"He's one of the greatest hitters in this game today," Angels manager Ron Washington said of Judge. "He does make outs. If you execute your pitch, he can make an out. And if you don't make an out, guess what? He got you."

Los Angeles is attempting to reach .500 for the first time since May 23 after getting solo homers from Nolan Schanuel and Jo Adell, who also reached on an error by shortstop Anthony Volpe that scored the decisive run in the eighth inning.

"That's a team win," Washington said. "A lot of contributions from a lot of people."

Carlos Rodon (8-5, 3.01 ERA) will start for New York on Thursday, attempting to avoid his second three-start losing streak of the season. Rodon was 7-0 with a 1.27 ERA in nine starts before dropping consecutive starts to the Boston Red Sox.

After allowing five runs on three hits in five-plus innings during an 11-7 home defeat on June 8, Rodon yielded four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five-plus innings at Boston on Saturday.

Rodon pitched seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball in a 3-2 win against Los Angeles on May 27 in Anaheim, Calif., fanning 10. He is 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels.

Tyler Anderson (2-4, 4.44 ERA), who is 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA in his past 10 starts, will take the mound for the Angels.

Anderson dropped his second straight outing on Saturday when he allowed season highs of six runs and nine hits in five-plus innings during a 6-5 loss at Baltimore.

Anderson opposed Rodon last month and lost despite permitting just two runs (one earned) on five hits in six innings. The left-hander is 1-2 with a 2.05 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees.

--Field Level Media