Brown looks good but Yankees still fall

NEW YORK -- Kevin Brown looked much better. The rest of the New York Yankees did not.

John Lackey combined with four relievers to shut down the all-or-nothing Yankees, and the Los Angeles Angels got RBI singles from Vladimir Guerrero and Darin Erstad in a 3-1 victory last night.

The Angels took two of three at Yankee Stadium, assuring New York (9-13) of its first losing month since it was 11-17 in May 2003.

"A lot of guys in this room have rings and we think we can play with anybody," Lackey said.

After Alex Rodriguez's huge night in a 12-4 victory Tuesday, the Yankees managed just one run in each of the last two games and dropped their second consecutive series at home. New York's star-studded lineup has scored two runs or fewer seven times this season.

"We couldn't come up with the big hit," Derek Jeter said. "We have spurts where we swing the bats well, just have not done it consistently."

Brown (0-3) lost his sixth straight start dating to last season -- but he was New York's lone bright spot. After altering his pregame warmup routine, he allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings, retiring his final 11 batters. The righthander hasn't won since Aug. 28, 2004, in Toronto, and his six-game losing streak matches the longest of his career.Lackey (2-1) lasted only 5 1/3 innings because he threw 111 pitches, but he was effective. He gave up only Hideki Matsui's RBI double, then turned it over to Los Angeles's outstanding bullpen. "You can't ever argue going to our bullpen. Those guys are great," Lackey said.

Jake Woods, Brendan Donnelly, and Scot Shields combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings before Francisco Rodriguez struck out two in a perfect ninth for his fifth save in six chances.

The Angels' bullpen has allowed only four earned runs in its last 39 2/3 innings.

"We have a core that has been together for several years now," Donnelly said.

The Yankees stranded 10 and went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.