Byrd shifted from left field to center after Hamilton left and nearly threw out the tying run at the plate in the fifth after charging in to field Mike Napoli's sharp single. But Hunter took the inside route against Laird and avoided the tag twice - once after failing to touch the plate the first time.

Washington protested vehemently to umpire and crew chief Dale Scott, to no avail.

"It was more than a tough call," Washington said. "Dale Scott can't miss those kind of plays. He just can't miss them. He explained it to me that (Hunter) got his fingers on the plate before Gerald tagged him the first time. I can't repeat how I responded to that, but that's what made me walk away. He was nowhere near that damn plate."

Napoli, who had made it all the way to third on the play because Laird failed to ask Scott to call time, scored on Wood's suicide squeeze to give the Angels a 2-1 lead.

Feldman (5-6) gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings after going 4-0 in his previous six road starts. One of the no-decisions was on Aug. 12 at Boston, when the right-hander gave up six runs in 2 2-3 innings before the Rangers got him off the hook and eventually lost 19-17.

Notes

The ideas attributed to him last season were to re-sign Alex Rodriguez for 10 years (what will that deal will look like in, say, 2016?) and trade for Johan Santana and give him the largest pitching contract in history (he was outvoted on that one). So pretty much anyone who knows the top 20 players in the game will know how Hank is thinking.

The most important initial decision the Yanks face, however, is not in deciding which players to reach out for, but in determining what to do with their current position players. Obviously, minds can be changed in the final month - especially by baseball miracle finishes — but this is how I feel going into the offseason:

Jason Giambi — The Yanks cannot live with his defense at first any longer, especially his tentativeness to throw. And they can't afford to bring this free agent back as a DH exclusively, not with Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui under contract at least through next year. Giambi could still help someone with his power and keen eye. But buyer beware: He gets on base plenty, but scores infrequently because of poor speed. And his bat has slowed enough that good pitchers beat him too routinely.

Robinson Cano — If he is the second baseman next year, fine, he still has the capability to be both a batting champ and Gold Glove. But the YanksNew York Yankees should investigate his market in the way Tampa did in turning a high-end young hitter (Delmon Young) into a young front-of-the-rotation starter (Matt Garza) last offseason. Cano for Zach Greinke, Chad Billingsley or Matt Cain anyone? To replace Cano, the Yanks could sign free agent Orlando Hudson, who I have heard was heartbroken when the MetsNew York Mets enlisted Luis Castillo long-term because he wanted to play in New York. Hudson is a defensive magician, a switch-hitter and - unlike Cano - a guy who brings high energy and concentration every day. Hudson is expected to make a full recovery from a dislocated bone in his left wrist that was operated upon earlier this month.