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TEX@LAA: Williams goes seven strong for his sixth win

When Angels starter Jerome Williams takes the mound on Saturday, it will be the right-hander's first outing since leaving a start on June 18 with respiratory problems.

But the team he's facing, the Yankees, won't exactly be welcoming him back with open arms.

In his last start at Yankee Stadium, his first start of the season on April 15, the right-hander surrendered five runs on five hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.

"I don't want to remember it," Williams said. "It's in the past, it was my first start of the year, and with all the stuff that was happening on that day, I'm not worried about it anymore. All I can do is look to the future and try and look at the moment right now. Hopefully, [Saturday will] be a different story."

Williams had struggled in his last three starts before landing on the DL. During that span, the right-hander allowed 14 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, against the Giants in his last start.

"I'm feeling good about [Saturday]," Williams said. "I feel like just getting back for the second half to try to help this ballclub get back to the playoffs, like we want to."

Yankees starter Freddy Garcia, on the other hand, is coming off of his best start of the year, against the Red Sox, going 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Saturday will be his third start of the season after 10 appearances as a reliever.

"I saw signs in the bullpen that he was throwing the ball better," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said following Garcia's last start. "Freddy was like, 'I'm going to get back.' He was committed to getting back. He did it."

Angels: Trumbo continues homer streak against Yanks
With his three-run shot in Friday night's loss, Angels slugger Mark Trumbo has now homered in five straight contests against the Yankees. He is only one homer shy of the Angels' record for consecutive games with a home run against an opponent. Tim Salmon had a homer in six straight against the Indians in 1998.

• Injured outfielder Vernon Wells is finally taking live batting practice on the field to go along with running and throwing. He has been on the DL since May 21 recovering from a broken right thumb. Manager Mike Scioscia guessed Wells would need to hit on the field for at least another week before taking any more steps, but the outfielder shouldn't be too far from a rehab assignment.

Yankees: Cano remains hot out of the break
With his 1-for-4 performance in Friday's win, Robinson Cano extended his season-high hit streak to 16 games. During the streak, he is hitting .385 with nine runs, five doubles, five homers, 16 RBIs and eight multihit games.

• Brett Gardner took batting practice on Friday and will do so again on Saturday, with the plan to move to a simulated game on Sunday. The outfielder hasn't played since April 17 with a strained right elbow, but could rejoin the team by the end of the month.

• Starter CC Sabathia pitched a simulated game before Friday's ballgame and is scheduled to make his first start since June 24 on Tuesday against the Blue Jays. He missed two starts for the Yankees while suffering from a mild groin strain.

Worth noting
• Friday's series-opening win put the Yankees at 20-9 in series openers this season. They have won nine of their last 12 series openers.

• The Yankees have won two consecutive contests against the Angels, and improved their record to 4-3 against Los Angeles this season. The Yankees are 10-5 overall against the Angels in new Yankee Stadium.

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