With family in the house, Alfredo Aceves threw 7 strong innings, winning his debut as a starter, against the Angels. The 25 year old rookie wore number 91 and allowed just 1 earned run on 5 hits and 2 walks en route to a 7-1 victory.

The Yankees scored first, in the second inning, when Xavier Nady doubled in A-Rod. The offense was quiet until the sixth. After a Derek Jeter triple and Bobby Abreu walk, A-Rod hit a home run to deep right center, putting the score at 4-0, Yankees.

The Angels finally scored off of Aceves in the bottom half of the sixth, thanks to an RBI ground out by Vladimir Guerrero. But, the Yankees answered right back with a Johnny Damon two run home run that scored Chad Moeller. Damon would add a second home run, a solo shot, in the ninth.

Aceves was relieved by Brian Bruney to start the eighth. 4 batters and 17 pitches later, the inning was over. Damaso Marte pitched the ninth inning and, after allowing a lead off single, retired the next 3 batters to end the game.

In the top of the 1st inning, Jeter singled for hit number 2,519, allowing him to move ahead of Ruth for second on the all-time Yankees hit list. "It kind of sounds funny, I guess," Jeter told Kat O'Brien after the game. "... I know I joke around that I'm old, but I'm not that old."

The Red Sox lost, so the Yankees are now 8.5 games back in the Wild Card standings. Andy Pettittle (13-12, 4.49) will take the hill today against Dustin Moseley (1-4, 7.90). Game time is 3:35 PM ET.