MASHAHIRO TANAKA got hi s sixth win of the season Sunday as the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 (Flickr/Christopher Marks).

In this up-and-down season for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, one thing seemed like a reliable bet: the Halos will do better on the road than at home.

Not always and not this weekend against the New York Yankees. The Yanks on Sunday bested the visitors from Orange County 3-1 to take the series two games to one. It was the first series loss on the road for the Angels in 2018.

The Angels are 17-7 on the road and 12-17 at the Big A. Overall they are 29-24, 4.5 games behind the first place Houston Astros but only one game ahead of the fourth place Oakland A’s, who have won seven of their last 10.

New York built an early lead against Garrett Richards, who turned in an unusually uneven performance. He lasted just 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and three runs. He struck out three batters but walked five and threw three wild pitches.

A subplot of the game was the pitcher-vs.-batter duel between Yankee starter Mashahiro Tanaka (6-2) and Shohei Ohtani, who was the DH for the Angels.

In the clash between the two Japanese stars, Tanaka was the winner, striking out his countryman Ohtani twice and walking him once. The sole run for the Angels was a sixth inning home run by Andrelton Simmpons, his fourth of the season.

Mike Trout, who was unstoppable with five hits on Saturday, was quieter on Sunday, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

The Angels will next go the Detroit to take on the Tigers (23-29). Tyler Skaggs (3-3) will start for the Halos in the first game of a three-game series.