Kyle Wilson of Long Beach elicits cheers from the crowd as he carries a sign that reads “KSE Thank You!,” referring to the Kroenke Sports and Entertainment company that bought the Angels from previous owner Arte Moreno, during the team’s game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Spencer Jones hits a solo home run during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Spencer Jones gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez tosses a rosin bag after giving up a solo home run to the New York Yankees’ Spencer Jones during the first inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, passes Angels second baseman Christian Moore as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, gestures as he finishes running the bases after hitting a solo home run as Angels catcher Tyler Heineman kneels at the plate during the first inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., left, is congratulated by teammate Trent Grisham after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans hold up signs during the first inning of a game between the Angels and the New York Yankees after Kroenke Sports and Entertainment reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership of the Angels from Arte Moreno on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dan Barbaria of Newport Beach, an Angels season ticket holder for 10 years, smiles from his seat in the stands as he expresses his delight about the news that the Angels are being sold to Rams owner Stan Kroenke during the team’s game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Fans hold up signs during the first inning of a game between the Angels and the New York Yankees after Kroenke Sports and Entertainment reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership of the Angels from Arte Moreno on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero throws out the Angels’ Tyler Heineman at second base after fielding a ball hit by Angels star Mike Trout during the fifth inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero throws out the Angels’ Tyler Heineman at second base after fielding a ball hit by Angels star Mike Trout during the fifth inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero, center, throws out the Angels’ Tyler Heineman, left, at second base after fielding a ball hit by Angels star Mike Trout during the fifth inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, puts a late tag on the Angels’ Oswald Peraza as Peraza dives back to second on a single by Tyler Heineman during the fifth inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Moisés Ballesteros, right, scores on a triple by Christian Moore as New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells stands at the plate during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans hold up signs and wave shirts during the seventh inning of a game between the Angels and the New York Yankees after Kroenke Sports and Entertainment reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership of the Angels from Arte Moreno on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans hold up signs and wave shirts during the seventh inning of a game between the Angels and the New York Yankees after Kroenke Sports and Entertainment reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership of the Angels from Arte Moreno on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Paul Goldschmidt during the eighth inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Angels’ Wade Meckler, right, is forced out by New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero as Caballero throws out Moisés Ballesteros at first to complete a double play during the eighth inning on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees relief pitcher John Schreiber throws to the plate during the ninth inning of a game against the Angels on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans arrive for the Angels’ game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. It was the first game since the news earlier in the day that Angels owner Arte Moreno is selling the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, a deal that won’t become official until early 2027. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Irvin Peña of Orange and Karina Berber of Santa Ana wear a Rams jersey and an Angels jersey to show their support for the new ownership of the Angels by Rams owner Stan Kroenke before a game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. It was the first game since the news earlier in the day that Angels owner Arte Moreno is selling the team to Kroenke, a deal that won’t become official until early 2027. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Life-long Angels fan George Sehremelis waves a flag after pulling up to the stadium, blasting Train’s “Calling All Your Angels” on his stereo on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. Arte Moreno has agreed to sell a controlling interest in the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fans arrive for the Angels’ game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. It was the first game since the news earlier in the day that Angels owner Arte Moreno is selling the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, a deal that won’t become official until early 2027. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Donning a Rams hat, Dave Borzilleri, a 40-year Angels fan, shows off the Angels shirt he bought at the team store on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. Arte Moreno has agreed to sell a controlling interest in the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke on Tuesday. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels star Mike Trout looks on before a game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
A sign directs fans to the New Era company store at Angel Stadium during the Angels’ game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. It was the first game since the news earlier in the day that Angels owner Arte Moreno is selling the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, a deal that won’t become official until early 2027. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Kyle Wilson of Long Beach elicits cheers from the crowd as he carries a sign that reads “KSE Thank You!,” referring to the Kroenke Sports and Entertainment company that bought the Angels from previous owner Arte Moreno, during the team’s game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM — The new ownership for the Angels won’t take the helm until next season.
Until then, there’s still plenty of housecleaning to perform.
The Angels took the field at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night, just hours after the jaw-dropping news that Arte Moreno had sold his controlling interest in the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke.
It didn’t take long for the Angels to show the new buyer that there is plenty to be dusted off, polished and maybe even thrown out during their 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees.
Still, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki was pleased with the focus and effort the team showed on an extraordinary day.
“They were prepared, they were ready and we were right in it until the end,” Suzuki said. “I loved the energy from the guys. I loved the intent and everything they were doing. The dugout was great, so a lot of good stuff.”
Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez put them in a 3-0 hole before they had a chance to step into the batter’s box, and the offense didn’t put much pressure on Yankees starter Gerrit Cole until the sixth.
When it was left to the bullpens, the Yankees (79-60) showed they were better there too, blanking the Angels (53-86) over the final three-plus innings while expanding their lead.
Bright spots were still visible for the hosts, however.
Wade Meckler delivered three hits with an RBI and a run scored, Christian Moore came through with a two-run triple in the sixth that made it a one-run game and ended Cole’s night, and Zach Neto had a pair of hard hits into the outfield.
Rodriguez (4-6) bounced back from giving up two early homers to last six innings. He surrendered four runs and seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
“Changeup began working a little better for me,” Rodriguez said. “Made some adjustments with it. They took some bad swings on it.”
Rodriguez struck out Ben Rice on three pitches to start the game, but then he gave up a single to right by Cody Bellinger. After getting the second out on a deep fly to center, Rodriguez couldn’t keep Spencer Jones in the ballpark, as he slugged a 3-and-1 fastball into the stands in right-center field for a 2-0 lead.
“Anytime you’re a pitcher, it’s hard to pitch from behind so getting ahead is step one,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of outings, when you struggle, it’s because you’re falling behind in the count. You can’t pitch behind in the count to big league hitters.”
After singles by Rice and Bellinger to start the third, Rodriguez got Luis Garcia Jr. to hit into a 3-6-3 double play, scoring Rice for a 4-0 lead.
“He was good,” Suzuki said of Rodriguez. “Obviously, three runs in the first, but I think for him to battle back and go six and give us a chance to win, I feel like he was attacking the zone and he wasn’t beating himself, so a lot of positives.”
Neto led off the bottom of the first with a double into the left-center field gap, but he was stranded at second. He lined a single to left with one out in the third, and this time Meckler came through with a two-out RBI single through the right side to cut it to 4-1.
“He just finds a way to put the bat on the ball,” Suzuki said of Meckler. “It’s a skill and he can do it really well. The key with him is he knows himself. He knows who he is. He doesn’t try to do too much. He just barrels it up.”
Meckler led off the sixth with a ground ball single up the middle. Moisés Ballesteros dropped a one-out single into center, bringing up Moore, who hit a line drive that tailed away from Jones in right and out of his reach.
The ball went into the corner, scoring both runners to cut the Yankees’ lead to 4-3.
“I know he’s been working a lot with the hitting guys,” Suzuki said of Moore. “The hitting guys have been diving into helping him and he’s been open-minded, and you’re seeing some results. He’s not going to be perfect, but the progress. A little bit everyday, getting better and better, and you see the results.”
With the tying run on third, Brent Headrick relieved Cole and the left-hander struck out pinch-hitter Jose Siri before getting Oswald Peraza to line out to right.
The Yankees re-built their cushion in the eighth, getting an RBI single from Trent Grisham and a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt to extend the lead to 6-3.
The visitors tacked on another run in the ninth on an RBI single by Jones to make it 7-3.
Cole (8-7), a former Orange Lutheran and UCLA standout, was charged with three runs while scattering eight hits over 5⅓ innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
“I thought we had some good at-bats,” Suzuki said. “Obviously, a very elite pitcher.”