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Cano, Yankees take advantage of Angels mistake in 6-5 win

It's never a good idea to give Robinson Cano the chance to hurt you.

That's exactly what happened Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, where a two-out, seventh-inning error by Angels second baseman Maicer Izturis set the stage for Cano's decisive grand slam off Scott Downs in a 6-5 Yankees win.

The Yankees won despite another shaky outing by Mariano Rivera, who allowed a three-run homer to Russell Branyan that pulled the Angels within a run in the ninth. The closer shut the door after that, however, collecting his 30th save.

The Yankees again won a series in which they dropped the opener as they closed within a game of the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. They increased their wild card lead to eight games over the Angels.

Bartolo Colon made the start, allowing only a two-run homer to Alberto Callaspo over six innings. Rafael Soriano pitched a clean seventh and was credited with his second win as a Yankee.

New York's other runs came also via the longball. Curtis Granderson's YSIII special into the right-field grandstand tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning. It was Granderson's 32nd of the season, extending a career high.

Brett Gardner's streak of 22 straight stolen bases without being caught came to an end in the eighth inning when the Angels successfully executed a pitchout.