NEW YORK -- Throughout an up-and-down month, the Los Angeles Angels have been pretty consistent in one area: hitting home runs. Ben Bishop Jersey . Albert Pujols had one of Los Angeles four long balls, C.J. Wilson kept New York in check again and the Angels roughed up the road weary Yankees 13-1 Friday night. "The offensive part of our club is doing what it needs to do," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hopefully well start to match it on the mound, particularly in the bullpen." Pujols hit homer No. 501 and Ian Stewart had a two-run shot off Hiroki Kuroda (2-2) for the majors top slugging squad. Erick Aybar connected for a three-run drive and Collin Cowgill went deep against Bruce Billings, one of the pitchers called up when Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games after being caught with pine tar on his neck Wednesday night. Even with Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun on the disabled list, the Angels set a club record for March and April with 35 home runs, and Pujols has a majors-leading nine. But Los Angeles, which wasted a ninth-inning lead Wednesday in a 5-4 loss, is just 11-11 and has not been above .500 yet this season. "It was a fun game for us after the off day and after the way the last game went," Wilson said. "Were hitting balls all over the place." Wilson (3-2) played catch on a softball field in Central Park wearing his red glove, unnoticed by any New Yorkers. It was hard not to notice his dominant performance in a difficult wind Friday. He gave up a run and four hits in six innings, the seventh time in eight starts hes held New York to two or fewer earned runs. Hank Conger had a pair of RBI doubles and a run-scoring single, Aybar reached base all five times -- once when Carlos Beltran dropped his flyball to right field -- and scored four runs. Howie Kendrick had three of the Angels 16 hits and scored three runs in a game that ended in front of a near-empty stadium. The Yankees returned home at 3 a.m. Friday from an eventful 4-3 road trip in which they lost starters Ivan Nova to a season-ending elbow injury and Pineda for two starts. They came out flat against the only AL team with a winning record against them since 2000. The Angels improved to 66-59 against New York since the turn of the century, but have won just 5 of the last 12. In the lineup because of his success against Kuroda and third baseman David Freeses struggles, Stewart singled in the second and hit a two-run shot in the third. He went 2 for 3 against the Yankees starter and is 8 for 16 against the righty. On a chilly night, New York managed just two hits off Wilson until the sixth, when Alfonso Soriano had a sacrifice fly after Derek Jeter singled for his 3,336th hit and Beltran doubled. "Hes got pretty good stuff," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Hes got good stuff and commands the baseball with a lot of movement." The Angels sprayed hits through the Yankees varied shifts, scoring three in the second. Conger doubled in a run with a liner that hit the right field wall with a loud thud, Cowgill drove in another with a sacrifice bunt to first base and J.B. Shuck had an RBI groundout. Stewart connected in the third with two outs. After his only 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, Kuroda gave up a long homer to Pujols to start the fifth. An out after Kendrick doubled, Aybar sent a fly to deep right that hit off Beltrans glove for an error, chasing Kuroda. "Im feeling good," Pujols said. "It feels good to feel healthy." Billings relieved and gave up an RBI double to Conger for an 8-0 lead. Aybar and Cowgill hit long balls off Billings in the seventh. Kuroda had his worst outing of the season, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs. "The sinker wasnt good, as well as my slider and I got behind in the count and got hit," Kuroda said through a translator. Scioscia said before the game Ernesto Frieri would be removed the closer role while he works on spotting his pitches. The right-hander worked a 1-2-3 eighth, when the score was 12-1. "Velocity is there," Frieri said. "I just need to make my pitches." NOTES: Girardi said David Phelps would start in Pinedas place on Wednesday. ... Yankees backup SS Brendan Ryan (back) is scheduled to play in a rehab game for Class-A Tampa on Sunday. ... Pujols nine homers in April ties an Angels record set by Brian Downing in 1986. ... Mike Trout went 0 for 4, snapping a 13-game hitting streak against the Yankees. Steven Stamkos Jersey. Cassano has been at the Policlinico facility since Saturday, when he was taken for tests after suffering what the club described as a brain problem on the team plane following the teams 3-2 victory over Roma. Tyler Johnson . - Hall of Fame centre Bill Russell was arrested this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after Transportation Security Administration officials found a loaded gun in his luggage.ST. PAUL, Minn. - Thomas Vanek had Minnesota high on his list from the start. Hes not the first NHL free agent to do so, and the way the Wild have been progressing he probably wont be the last. Vanek agreed Tuesday to a three-year, $19.5 million contract, giving an improving lineup a potentially prolific scorer and allowing the Austrian-born left wing to settle in an area he has made his home since college. Two summers ago, the Wild turned heads by landing left wing Zach Parise and defenceman Ryan Suter. Now theyve added another top-market free agent in Vanek, whose 277 goals are the eighth-most in the NHL since his debut nine years ago. "What intrigued me the most was obviously with Zach signing here and Suter signing here, this team is getting really good and is very good," Vanek said, adding: "Im extremely thrilled to be a part of the Wild and of a group like this." According to a person with knowledge of the contract who spoke to on condition of anonymity because the team did not announce the value, Vanek will make $5.5 million this season, $6.5 million in 2014-15 and $7.5 million in 2015-16. Vanek lives with his family in Stillwater, an idyllic riverfront suburb a few miles from Xcel Energy Center. He played two seasons at the University of Minnesota before turning pro with Buffalo and called winning the national championship with the Gophers the "best thing" hes done in his hockey career. "To be a part of the Wild now and go after the big prize and having a chance to do it in Minnesota is beyond my wildest dreams," Vanek said. Vanek was the fifth overall pick by the Sabres in 2003. He had two 40-goal seasons for them, but last fall he was traded to the New York Islanders, who later dealt him to Montreal. He totalled 27 goals over 78 games with the three teams. In the playoffs with the Canadiens, he had five goals and five assists in 17 games. Vaneks production slipped at times this season, and he was even benched briefly during the post-season, but the Wild werent deterred. "It certainly wasnt my best one I can tell you that. But Ill take the blame for that," Vanek said. "Its not always easy moving around and being away from my family." Vanek will play on either the first or secondd line, with some combination of Parise, Jason Pominville, Charlie Coyle, Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund likely filling the other top five forward spots. Alex Killorn Jersey. Vaneks 113 power-play goals since his 2005-06 rookie season are the third-most in the NHL in that span. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Vanek has the type of finishing ability around the net the Wild have lacked. "Theres no question that we do have some skill, but we dont score goals easily," coach Mike Yeo said. Vanek turned down seven-year offers, including from the Islanders. When Pominville was traded to the Wild last year, Vanek was the one who encouraged his long-time Sabres teammate. "He loved Buffalo a lot, which I did too," Vanek said. "But I told him, Youll like it there. Theres a lot of good fans. And after a week or so, he called me and said, You know what? Youre right. I do like it here a lot." Unlike in the other major pro sports, Minnesota can be a destination market in the NHL because of its hockey roots. The addition of Parise and Suter and the Wilds advancement to the Western Conference semifinals this spring were further steps toward NHL prominence. "People recognize the talent that you have. So were getting better. Were in a good place," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. Defenceman Clayton Stoner (Anaheim), left wing Matt Moulson (Buffalo) and centre Cody McCormick (Buffalo) departed the Wild as unrestricted free agents. Others in that category not expected back are left wing Dany Heatley and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Defenceman Nate Prosser could return for the right price. The Wild also signed defenceman Stu Bickel (one year) and centre Brett Sutter (two years) to two-way contracts, adding depth with players wholl likely bounce between AHL affiliate Iowa and the parent club. The 27-year-old Sutter, the son of Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter, has played in 54 career NHL games with Calgary and Carolina. Bickel, a native of Chanhassen who played one season for the Gophers, played in 67 games for the New York Rangers over a two-year span. He spent last season in the AHL. ___ AP Sports Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, New York, contributed to this report. ' ' '
