Angels hammer Yankees with seven-run inning

ANAHEIM, California (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Angels struck seven runs in the fifth inning and overwhelmed the New York Yankees 14-8 on Saturday.

The Angels, who trailed 4-0 early, turned the game around with seven big hits in the fifth and added four more runs in the eighth after New York pulled within 10-8.

Alex Rodriguez homered twice for the Yankees, boosting his career total to 570, and team mate Eric Hinske also had two home runs, but four New York pitchers could not weather Los Angeles' 16-hit attack.

The loss dropped the Yankees to a game and a half behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. Los Angeles pulled even with Texas in the AL West prior to the Rangers' late game at Seattle.

Mike Napoli and Bobby Abreu both drove in three runs for the Angels, who beat the Yankees for the second consecutive day.

Napoli doubled home two runs in the fifth to break a 4-4 tie and hit a solo homer in the seventh.

"He's been killing us," the Yankees' Johnny Damon told reporters. "It looks like he's found his groove and all those guys are stepping up with the two big guys gone."

The wins have come without tough hitters Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero, both out with leg injuries.

New York starter Andy Pettitte (8-5) did not allow a hit for the first three innings before being chased in the fifth.

He gave up six runs and seven hits while striking out one and walking two in four-plus innings.

"They really put the pressure on you," Pettitte said. "They don't strike out a whole lot and don't quit."

Jered Weaver (10-3) chalked up the win by striking out nine in six innings. He yielded four hits and four runs.

Weaver gave up a two-run homer to Rodriguez in the first inning and a solo homer to Hinske in the second before settling down. He became the fifth American League pitcher to win 10 games. Boston's Tim Wakefield leads the league with 11.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina. Editing by Ian Ransom)