New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto, center, reacts as he misses a catch as he trips over the New York Yankees’ Juan Soto, left, in front of second baseman Luis Rengifo and umpire Vic Carapazza, resulting in a runner’s interference call during the first inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Juan Soto, front, collides with Angels shortstop Zach Neto while trying to get back to second base as Neto attempted to make a catch on a ball hit by Giancarlo Stanton during the first inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. Stanton was called out on the play and Soto was also called out on base runner’s interference. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Juan Soto, right, reacts after being called out for interfering with Angels shortstop Zach Neto, left, while trying to get back to second base on a ball hit by Giancarlo Stanton during the first inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. Stanton was called out on the play and Soto was also called out on base runner’s interference. The Angels lost, 2-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Juan Soto (22) reacts to umpire Vic Carapazza in front of Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo, top right, and shortstop Zach Neto, bottom right, after he is called out on runner’s interference during the first inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Juan Soto, center, reacts between Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo, left, and shortstop Zach Neto, right, after he is called out on runner’s interference during the first inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, left, argues with umpires during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. Boone argued after Juan Soto was called out at second base for runner’s interference. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, left, argues a runner’s interference call on Juan Soto, not pictured, with umpires Vic Carapazza (19) and Adam Hamari (78) during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, left, is ejected by second base umpire Vic Carapazza during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. Boone argued after Juan Soto was called out at second for runner’s interference. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson gets set to pitch during the second inning of their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge runs to second base as Alex Verdugo grounds out during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil reacts on the mound during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo celebrates in the dugout after a runner’s interference call broke up a possible Angels double play during the second inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Angels manager Ron Washington, right, talks with third base umpire Manny Gonzalez during the second inning of their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton breaks his bat as he grounds out during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton reacts after breaking his bat while hitting a pop fly during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo, right, runs the bases behind Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo, right, gestures as he scores after hitting a solo home run, as Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe looks on during the fourth inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo, center, gestures as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run as Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe, left, kneels at the plate and home plate umpire Brian Walsh watches during the fourth inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Verdugo reacts in front of Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo, right, celebrates with teammate Gleyber Torres after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Angels shortstop Zach Neto, right, reacts to an out on New York Yankees star Aaron Judge to end the top of the fifth inning on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil leaves the mound after the fifth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge bats away his gum after striking out during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe reacts at the plate as he swings during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe smiles as he heads home after a throwing error on his triple during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe, left, celebrates with teammate Mickey Moniak after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino, left, and relief pitcher Clay Holmes congratulate each other after the final out of their 2-1 victory over the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees outfielders Alex Verdugo, left, Juan Soto, center, and Aaron Judge celebrate after their 2-1 victory over the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo, right, and Anthony Volpe celebrate after their 2-1 victory over the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Angels manager Ron Washington, left, talks with assistant coach Jayson Nix prior to their game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone watches from the dugout before their game against the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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ANAHEIM — The Angels spent another night pestering one of the best teams in baseball as they appear ready to enter June with a little less gloom.
The New York Yankees lost their manager to an ejection in the first inning on Wednesday yet still managed to maintain their resolve.
Angels starter Tyler Anderson walked an early tightrope before the Yankees ultimately pulled off a 2-1 victory before a mostly pro-New York crowd.
Unlike the series opener, when the Angels produced an eighth-inning rally for a victory, the offense mustered little against Yankees rookie phenom Luis Gil. The right-hander allowed just one hit until Logan O’Hoppe tagged him for a seventh-inning home run.
The difference ended up being an overthrow to third base on a seventh-inning triple by Anthony Volpe, who was able to dust himself off and walk to the plate when the relay from second baseman Luis Rengifo rolled into the Angels’ dugout.
Yet not everybody was willing to consider two tight games against a top team as a reason to celebrate.
“We have to win (Thursday) and I think we can have that (positive) mindset moving forward,” O’Hoppe said. “We’ve got to win a series against a good club and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Until the seventh inning, the rule book had been kind to the Angels, who ended up losing for the fourth time in five games. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was tossed in the opening inning when he argued an interference call.
The Yankees loaded the bases against Anderson after three batters, but on a pop-up in the middle of the infield by Giancarlo Stanton, Angels shortstop Zech Neto backed into Juan Soto while trying to make the catch. Umpires already called for an infield fly, to retire Stanton and Soto was ruled out when Neto crashed into him.
“I was just trying to catch the ball,” Neto said. “I wasn’t trying to do it on purpose. It was just bad timing on his part, I guess. But there was no intention for me to get in his way or for him to get into my way.”
Said crew chief Vic Carapazza to a pool reporter: “The only time (runners) are protected is if he was on the base just standing there. So I had him interfering with the infielder and called the infield fly first, which now the batter is out. The interference after that was the second out.”
Carapazza said he did not think Soto tried to intentionally interfere with Neto.
Again in the third inning, more hijinks on the bases ensued when the Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo was hit in the foot by a ground ball while running between second and third base. While Rizzo was called out, the move prevented the Angels from pulling off a double play.
“Kind of some strange stuff,” Anderson said.
New York finally broke through in the fourth when Alex Verdugo hit a home run down the line in right field, much to the delight of the Yankee fans seated up and down the first-base line.
Anderson (5-5) gave up one run despite allowing four hits and six walks in five innings. Five Angels pitchers combined to walk nine batters.
After Volpe’s triple and run scored when Rengifo’s throw got past both third baseman Luis Guillorme and reliever Hunter Strickland, who was backing up the play, the Angels finally found the scoreboard.
O’Hoppe’s sixth home run of the season, just cleared the wall in right center on an 0-and-1 changeup from Gil. It was just the second home run allowed this month by Gil, who owned May with a 6-0 record in six starts and a 0.70 ERA.
Gil (7-1) gave up the lone run over eight innings with nine strikeouts. Yankees starters extended their MLB-record run to 16 consecutive starts of at least five innings and two runs or less.
Volpe also extended his hitting streak to 21 games by delivering two hits.
And yet the Angels managed to hang into the bitter end, making things interesting in the ninth inning against Clay Holmes, who blew the save opportunity Tuesday.
Trailing by a run, Rengifo singled to lead off the ninth and immediately went to second base on a wild pitch. Tuesday’s hero Taylor Ward walked, but Willie Calhoun grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
Rengifo was left on third base as the tying run when O’Hoppe grounded out to third base to end the game.
“We hung in the game,” Manager Ron Washington said. “We didn’t give ourselves a chance early in the game but we had the winning run on the bag, we had the tying run on the bag. We just didn’t come through.”
The Angels (21-34) are now 7-20 at home, while playing .500 baseball on the road. They haven’t won a series at home all season, are 8-20 in games decided by one or two runs overall and 3-14 in those tight games at Angel Stadium.
Bench coach Brad Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019, took over after Boone was ejected.
