(Best E Casino) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim go for their sixth straight win this afternoon when they play the third test of a four-game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

After destroying the Yankees in the series opener, the Angels relied on the right arm of Ervin Santana in the second game on Friday, as he combined with Francisco Rodriguez on a five-hit shutout, lifting Los Angeles to a 1-0 win.

The Angels finally broke a scoreless tie off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera (4-4) in the ninth. Mark Teixeira opened the frame by drawing a walk. Reggie Willits came on to pinch run and was quickly chased to third when Vladimir Guerrero sliced a single to the opposite field. Torii Hunter then ripped a single up the middle past a drawn-in infield to give Los Angeles all the offense it would need.

Rivera has allowed just eight earned runs all season, seven of them in non- save situations.

Rodriguez came on to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his major league-best 45th save of the season.

Santana (12-5) allowed just five hits and two walks while striking out eight for the AL-West leading Angels, who won for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

Derek Jeter was 2-for-4 for the suddenly struggling Yankees, who have dropped five of their past six games and fell 5 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Sidney Ponson was brilliant on the hill for New York, hurling seven shutout innings and allowing just two hits and four walks while fanning one.

Jered Weaver will try to keep the Angels rolling this afternoon, as he tries to win his third straight decision. Weaver defeated the Boston Red Sox on Monday, as he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings to run his record to 9-8 on the season to go along with a 4.11 earned run average.

Weaver has faced the Yankees just twice in his young career and has beaten them both times, while pitching to a 3.27 ERA.

New York will pin its hopes on veteran righty Mike Mussina, who had the worst start of his season on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles. Mussina was hammered for six runs and eight hits in five innings by the O's, as he dropped to 13-7 on the season, while raising his ERA to 3.56.

Mussina is 15-9 lifetime against the Halos with a 3.71 ERA in 31 starts.

The Angels won six of nine from the Yanks last season, including four of six in New York.