NEW YORK - Angels shortstop Erick Aybar took his position in the bottom of the first inning last night wearing two layers under his uniform and a red hood nearly encasing his face.
The visitors from sunny California did not appear comfortable at Yankee Stadium, committing three errors and letting an easy pop drop to score a run that helped the Yankees win Game 1, 4-1.
“It was ugly,’’ manager Mike Scioscia said.
After Johnny Damon singled to left and took second on a throwing error by Juan Rivera in the first, he scored when a two-out pop by Hideki Matsui dropped between Aybar and third baseman Chone Figgins.
“That ball has to be caught,’’ Figgins said.
In the sixth inning, starter John Lackey committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and on the next pitch, Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter overran a single, making a rare error.
“Bad weather can affect defense more than offense,’’ Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said. “The wind plays tricks on the ball.’’
“Obviously I know I’m going to be a lot fresher than usual,’’ Saunders said.
Saunders was scheduled to start Game 4 of the Division Series against the Red Sox. But the Angels swept, leaving Saunders with time on his hands, mostly spent preparing for the Yankees. He has a 6.28 ERA in five career starts against New York.
“Joe Saunders was the guy we felt was ready and I thought his stuff would match up better in this park than anywhere else,’’ Scioscia said.
Tynan, who traditionally sings “God Bless America’’ during the seventh-inning stretch, ran into a real estate agent who was showing around prospective tenants at his Manhattan apartment building.
When the agent joked to Tynan that they weren’t Red Sox fans, Tynan responded, “I don’t care about that, as long as they are not Jewish.’’
Tynan apologized for the remark but the Yankees still excluded him. His status for future games is undetermined.
