"He's someone that you enjoy having on the team," Derek Jeter said. "He's, what, 18 years old? Seventeen years old, it seems like. He's always smiling, he's working extremely hard and he's contributing."

Pena, who actually is 23, hadn't played above Class AA prior to this year. But he impressed the Yankees with his play on defense during spring training and made the club as a utility infielder capable of handling second base, third base and shortstop. He made three starts at third base before opening-day third baseman Cody Ransom went on the disabled list last week with a torn right quadriceps. Pena has made four straight starts at the hot corner, where he's a defensive upgrade over converted shortstop Angel Berroa.

The regular playing time seems to agree with Pena, who is 5-for-13 over the past four games. He was just 1-for-10 in his first three starts at third base. Pena will soon return to the bench, but his performance this month has cemented his spot on the roster as well as made the Yankees more comfortable if he needs to play regularly at some point this season.

YANKEES 7, ANGELS 4: Melky Cabrera's RBI single snapped an eighth-inning tie, and Ramiro Pena added a two-run double for insurance as the Yankees won their third straight by beating the Angels in the opener of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Every starter had at least one hit for the Yankees, who received two hits apiece from Cabrera, Pena and Derek Jeter. A.J. Burnett gave up three runs in the first two innings but settled down to last seven innings, during which he allowed four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out five. Phil Coke earned the win with a perfect eighth, and Mariano Rivera notched his fifth save.