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Pujols 3 hits, Simmons' 2 RBIs lead Angels over Yankees 2-0

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - After going winless for two months, Jhoulys Chacin decided to think like a reliever.

Chacin (4-8) allowed six hits over 5 2/3 innings, struck out four and walked one in his first scoreless start since April 12 for Atlanta, leading the Los Angeles Angels over the New York Yankees 2-0 Sunday.

"It felt good, not just for me, but for the team too," Chacin said. "I wasn't trying to do too much. I was just trying to throw strikes."

Albert Pujols had three hits and scored twice on singles by Andrelton Simmons. That was enough offense for Chacin, who had been 0-4 in five starts and eight relief appearances since beating Minnesota on June 14.

Making his third start since rejoining the rotation, Chacin used a relaxed bullpen mentality.

"I thought he showed really good stuff," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He had good command of both his breaking pitches - his slider and his curveball. He didn't make many mistakes with them. And when we needed him to, he found some velocity and some good movement on his fastball."

Deolis Guerra, JC Ramirez and Fernando Salas followed with hitless relief. Salas pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

After winning the first two games of the series, New York entered four games over .500 at 63-59 but for the fourth time failed to move five games over.

Chad Green (2-3) allowed one run and five hits in six innings, which matched his big league high. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Toronto on Monday when he rejoined the rotation.

"He didn't have his cutter today," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "But he still found a way to get through it all and give up one run. He was a little bit different today, but the good thing was that he found a way to get through it."

Pujols had his seventh three-hit game this year. Aggressive base-running by allowed him to score from second base on Simmons' first single. Pujols went from first to third on C.J. Cron's single and scored on came home on Simmons' two-out ground single just beyond the reach of second baseman Starlin Castro.

"Something that's lost in everything is Albert going first to third in the eighth inning," Scioscia said. "That opened up a hole there at second base where Castro was playing."

One night after tying former St. Louis teammate Mark McGwire for 10th on the career home run list at 583, Pujols nearly surpassed his close friend. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury made a leaping catch at the wall in the fifth to deny Pujols a two-run homer.

New York was 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Mark Teixeira hit an inning-ending flyout to leave the bases loaded in the fourth. After the Yankees put two on with one out in the eighth, Ramirez struck out Didi Gregorious and retired Castro on a groundout.

"Our opportunities, we have to take advantage of them when we get them," Girardi said. "We weren't able to do that today."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: RHP Huston Street has gone to Texas to seek a second opinion on his injured right knee in Texas and may need offseason surgery. Scioscia said surgery likely would be minor and would take place in the offseason. Street was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right knee inflammation on Aug. 2.

UP NEXT

Yankees: RHP Michael Pineda (6-10) will pitch on an extra day of rest Monday when the Yankees open a series at Seattle, his former team. Pineda pitched five scoreless innings against Toronto in his last outing and has won five of his last six starts.

Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (1-2) starts Tuesday when the Angels open a three-game series at Toronto. In his third start following Tommy John surgery, Skaggs allowed four earned runs and six hit in 3 1/3 innings against Seattle on Wednesday.

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This version has been corrected to show the Yankees entered Sunday at 63-59.

New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius can't reach a ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Angels' C.J. Cron during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. The Angels won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, left, throws to second baseman Cliff Pennington, right, in attempt to throw out New York Yankees' Didi Gregorius at second after fielding a ball hit for a single by Starlin Castro during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, left, throws to second baseman Cliff Pennington in attempt to throw out New York Yankees' Didi Gregorius at second after fielding a ball hit for a single by Starlin Castro during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons fields a ball hit by New York Yankees' Starlin Castro during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols, right, scores on a single by Andrelton Simmons as New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez takes a late throw during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Angels catcher Carlos Perez, left, and relief pitcher Fernando Salas congratulate each other after they defeated the New York Yankees in a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout, right, is tagged out by New York Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro as he tries to steal second during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. The Angels won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley, left, dives to tag out Los Angeles Angels' C.J. Cron as Cron tried to make it to third from first on an RBI single by Andrelton Simmons during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. The Angels won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
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