Bronx, NY (My Sportsbook) - Ramiro Pena's first two career RBI came as part of a game-changing three-run eighth inning, as the New York Yankees beat the Angels, 7-4, in the opener of a four-game set.

Johnny Damon had a solo homer and Hideki Matsui went 1-for-4 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 10 games for New York, which won its third straight on the heels of a four-game slide. Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to a single-season career-high 17 games with a single in the eighth.

Mark Teixeira, who appeared in 54 games for the Halos last season and hit .358 in his time with them to help the club secure their fourth AL West crown in the last five years, went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored in the win.

Derek Jeter went 2-for-4 and drove in a run, which gives the team captain 1,014 for his career. That moves him past Bob Meusel for sole possession of 10th place on the franchise's all-time RBI list.

"He's working and contributing when he gets the chance," said Jeter about Pena. "It was a big inning we had there and those guys came up with some big hits. You need different people to contribute and tonight we got that."

A.J. Burnett didn't factor in the decision after he went seven frames and gave up four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts against one walk. Phil Coke (1-1) got the win after hurling a perfect eighth inning. Mariano Rivera earned his fifth save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

"It's nice to have the big inning," said Coke. The offense has been getting it done and our defense has been good so it looks like we're finally getting it together here. I just try to do my part and make sure I pitch as well as I can."

Mike Napoli had a solo homer for the Angels, who were denied a bid for their season-high fourth straight win. Maicer Izturis, Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar drove in a run each in the setback. Bobby Abreu, who spent the last two-plus seasons with the Yankees before signing in LA as a free agent this offseason, went 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts.

Anthony Ortega lasted 6 1/3 innings and gave up four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits in his second career start. Justin Speier (0-1) was tagged with the loss after he gave up all three runs while recording just one out in the eighth.

With the game tied at four in the eighth inning the Yankees rallied off Speier. Cano had a one-out single, Jorge Posada followed with a ground-rule double over the wall in right-center and Nick Swisher was issued a free pass to load the bases. Melky Cabrera kept it going with an RBI single to right and Pena added a two-run double to right to make it 7-4 and bring in Jason Bulger from the bullpen.

"Justin just missed his spots and those guys put some hits together against him," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "They have a lot of power in that lineup and it hurt us tonight."

Jeter worked a four-pitch walk which loaded the bases, but Damon popped up for the second out. Teixeira was caught looking at the third strike to end the threat with the bases juiced.

Rivera took over on the hill and gave up a leadoff single to Torii Hunter, who took second on defensive indifference. Kendry Morales, though, was caught looking at the third strike for the first out and Napoli whiffed for the second. Howie Kendrick grounded back to the mound to end the game.

The visitors got on the board in the first inning, as Figgins led off with a triple and crossed home when Izturis followed with a groundout.

The Yankees tied it in the home half with two outs. Teixeira drove a double to center and crossed home as Matsui singled.

Napoli opened the second stanza with a homer to right-center field. Kendrick followed with a walk, stole second base, advanced 90 feet on Juan Rivera's groundout and crossed home on Aybar's sac fly to make it 3-1.

In the third inning Damon crushed a 2-0 fastball over the fence in right to make it a one-run affair.

The home team rallied to take the lead, 4-3, with two outs in the fourth. With one out, Swisher singled and moved to second on Cabrera's groundout. Pena then hit a slow roller to Figgins that went for an infield single, before Jeter hit a single to Abreu in right that was misplayed to allow both runners to score.

Aybar's double and Figgins' single plated a run to tie the game in the fifth.

Game Notes

LA went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left three men on base. New York was 5-for-11 with RISP and stranded eight baserunners...Cano has recorded a hit in each of his last 12 home games...With the victory, the Yankees (12-10) recorded their first winning April since 2006 (2008: 14-15; 2007: 9-14; 2006: 13-10)...The Angels have had their way with the Yankees over the past few seasons, going 19-11 against them since the start of the 2006 season. Anaheim won seven of its 10 meetings with the Yanks last season, but split their four matchups at Yankee Stadium.