New York @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) NY Yankees 0, LA Angels 6

THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels are quickly closing the gap in the American League West. Winners of six of their last seven, the Angels will look to inch closer to the division-leading Texas Rangers when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting New York Yankees on Sunday. Los Angeles has shaved 5 1/2 games off its deficit and now sits 1 1/2 back of Texas. New York has dropped four in a row, but remains 2 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FSW (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Freddy Garcia (11-7, 3.50 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (11-10, 3.18 ERA)

Garcia is riding a four-game winning streak, although he is lucky that it is still intact after his last outing. The 34-year-old Venezuelan yielded seven runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings on Monday, but was taken off the hook after the Yankees posted an 11-10 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Garcia has enjoyed considerable success versus the Angels, recording a 15-3 career mark with a 2.42 ERA.

Santana saw his modest two-game winning streak come to an end in his last outing. The 28-year-old Dominican yielded two runs on seven hits in six innings, but suffered a hard-luck 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Santana fell to 5-4 in his career against the Yankees after dropping a 3-2 decision on June 4. He allowed seven hits in as many innings in that contest.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (87-57): Apparently, Joe Girardi's club failed to take its offense with it on its West Coast trip. The Yankees have scored one run on seven hits in the first two games of this series. To add injury to insult, New York needed its fair share of Band-Aids after its 6-0 loss to the Angels on Saturday. Catcher Russell Martin suffered a right hand contusion after he was hit by a foul ball. With fellow backstop Francisco Cervelli sidelined with concussion symptoms, Girardi ushered 40-year-old Posada behind the plate for the first time this season. Posada responded by throwing out Howie Kendrick on a stolen base attempt. Also on the injury front, Alex Rodriguez has been shut down for at least three days because of a problematic thumb. Rodriguez has been plagued by the digit over the past three weeks. Right fielder Nick Swisher was diagnosed with left elbow tendinitis and is listed as day-to-day.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (80-65): Dan Haren tossed his fourth complete game of the season and Jeff Mathis belted a two-run homer as Los Angeles cruised to a 6-0 triumph on Saturday. For Mathis, the homer was just his third of the season and first since June 19. Torii Hunter collected his 20th homer for the sixth straight year and 10th time in 11 seasons. Hunter has torched Garcia in his career, going 19-for-46 (.413) with four homers and eight RBIs. Rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo collected three hits to continue his recent hot streak. The 25-year-old Anaheim native has nine hits in his last seven games.

FINAL PITCH: "I got a chance to get back behind the plate," Posada said. "I didn't think it was going to happen in September. But (Cervelli's) down, (Rookie Jesus) Montero was DH-ing and Martin was banged up. I have my equipment with me. I'm an emergency catcher, like I was today. Joe (Girardi) said, 'What do you think?' So I said, 'Well, if you need me, I'm there.' He said, 'Go ahead. It's like riding a bike.' I was excited. It was fun. I'll be sore tomorrow, but I'll sleep well tonight."