Nolasco falls again; Yanks break through

DIDI GREGORIOUS hit a two-run home run to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead over the Angels Wednesday night. They went on to win 8-4 (Flickr/Arturo Pardavilla III).

It’s a measure of how ravaged the pitching staff of the Los Angeles Angels is that Ricky Nolasco – loser of 10 straight starts – is still in the rotation. He racked up his latest loss Wednesday night as the Halos lost 8-4 to the Yankees in New York.

Nolasco (2-9) worked 5.1 innings, giving up seven hits and five runs. He struck out five batters, but walked five and was touched for two home runs. Didi Gregorious and Matt Holliday each went deep for the Yankees (39-30) who broke a seven-game losing streak with the victory. The defeat put the Angels record at 37-38.

Martin Maldonado led the attack for the Orange County team. He batted 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs. He drove in all four of the Angels’ runs and accounted for 10 total bases. Andrelton Simmons also had a good night with three hits and two runs scored.

The Yankees built an early 2-0 lead and a two-run homer by Gregorius in the second, but Maldonado tied it with a home run of his own in the fourth. The home team scored six more runs – including a Holliday homer – before the Angels could answer with Maldonado’s second four-bagger in the ninth inning.

Jordan Montgomery (5-4) started and worked 5.2 innings for the Yankees, giving up five hits and two runs.

The third game of the series is on Thursday with Jesse Chavez (5-7) making the start for the Angels. Luis Severino (5-2) will start for the Yankees.