NEW YORK -- Thanks in large part to a fifth-inning offensive outburst, the Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Angels, returning to .500 on the season with a 6-3 win on Thursday.
The Yankees trailed, 1-0, headed into the bottom of the fifth inning, but sparked by a consistent stream of hits, the Yankees clawed back and eventually jumped ahead. Didi Gregorius led off the inning with a walk, Chase Headley moved him over with a grounder to second base, and Chris Parmelee singled him home, tying the game. Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann all added hits as well in the frame, with Beltran's and McCann's landing for doubles.
For the Angels, the loss signaled an end to a tough trip to the Bronx in which Halos pitchers allowed 29 runs. Starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin looked strong to start, allowing just three baserunners in the first four innings, but was responsible for all five of the runs in the fifth inning, later departing after recording just one out in the sixth.

"I think we played good baseball this series," said Beltran, who went 7-for-15 and drove in 10 runs in the four games. "Right now, we're pitching good, playing good defense and hitting well. We need to stay with the same plan."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Another RBI and another injury: A day after he hit two home runs in his first Yankees start, Parmelee drove in the first run in the fifth. The four RBIs in two games are one more than all other Yankees first basemen had in 26 games since May 10. But any hopes that Parmelee could hold onto the first-base job ended in the seventh inning, when he hurt his right hamstring while stretching to catch a throw from Gregorius at shortstop. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the game that Parmelee will almost certainly go on the disabled list, joining Mark Teixeira and Dustin Ackley, who also have played first base for the Yankees this season. More >

Nova goes deep: Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova completed at least six innings for the fifth consecutive start, getting Girardi to the part of the game in which he could turn loose the three great relievers at the back end of his bullpen. After Nova allowed Jefry Marte's home run that cut the Yankees' lead to 5-3, Girardi went to Dellin Betances to get out of the seventh inning. Andrew Miller then pitched the eighth, with Aroldis Chapman pitching the ninth to close out the win.
"I feel good about the way I've been throwing the ball lately," Nova said.
Pinch-hit power: Down four runs in the seventh inning, Angels manager Mike Scioscia opted to pinch-hit for catcher Carlos Perez, who had struck out swinging twice earlier in the game. The bat he elected to send to the plate belonged to Marte, who proved Scioscia's instincts right, lacing a home run that Statcast™ estimated at 439 feet into the left-field stands, scoring Johnny Giavotella and cutting the Yankees' lead to two runs.

Back, but not best: After being activated from the DL in the afternoon, Cory Rasmus returned to action in the seventh inning of Thursday's game. His return wasn't a particularly encouraging one for the Angels, as he allowed one run on two hits from the first three batters he faced. He later settled down, intentionally walking one batter and stranding two runners with back-to-back popups.
"I let it speed up on me a little bit, but overall I felt all right," Rasmus said. "I thought I made some quality pitches and I made a couple that weren't. The one with A-Rod was about as good as he's gonna get, and he's too good to be throwing that one. He's done that a billion times in his career, it seems like. I played right to his hand." More >

REPLAY REVIEW
With one on and one out in the top of the third inning, Yunel Escobar singled up the middle, notching the Angels' first hit of the game. Gregorio Petit, who reached base the at-bat prior with a hit by pitch, attempted to stretch from first to third on the grounder, and was initially successful. After further review, however, Ellsbury's throw from center field beat Petit to the bag, resulting in the second out of the inning.

WHAT'S NEXT
Angels:The Halos return home for the start of a three-game set against the Cleveland Indians on Friday at 7:05 p.m. PT. Hector Santiago will be on the mound for the Angels, trying to buck the trend of allowing more than one run per inning over his last four starts.
Yankees:CC Sabathia, who has a 0.87 ERA over his last five starts but hasn't won since May 20 due to a lack of support, starts for the Yankees in Friday 7:05 p.m. ET opener of a three-game weekend series against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Right-hander Mike Pelfrey starts for the Tigers.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.