Yankees defeat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a nail bitter in the Bronx

Nathan Eovaldi (Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports)

The New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 on Friday night in a wild one.

The Yankees were led by second baseman Stephen Drew who homered twice on Friday night, and Mark Tiexiera who also cleared the right field wall for the Yankees, who fought off a ninth inning rally by the Halos to hang on for an 8-7 victory.

Drew, who was only batting .165 coming into tonight cleared the right field wall in the second with one on and two out, and then again in the sixth, this one a solo shot that chased Angels started Jered Weaver from the game.

Texiera’s third inning homer gave the Yankees insurance as the two run shot put the Yanks up 4-0. Yankees starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi went 5 1/3 innings allowing one run on four hits to improve his record to 5-1 on the season.

Behind a four hit night from Alex Rodriguez, including an RBI single in the fifth that moved him past Barry Bonds for second All Time in Major league history at 1997, the Yanks led 8-1 heading to the ninth, but Esmil Rodgers was not sharp in any way. The righty allowed all five baserunners he faced get on, including an infield pop-up that fell between Chase Headley and Jose Pirela. Dellin Betances was brought into the game and closed it out for the Yanks, but not before six Angels scored.

The Yankees got a win that was much harder than anyone could’ve imagined.