Rangers 0
Yankees 3
Final
  for this game

Kuroda takes no-hitter into 7th; Yanks blank Rangers

Aug 15, 2012 - 4:09 AM

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Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Hiroki Kuroda took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira belted back-to-back homers, as the New York Yankees topped the Texas Rangers, 3-0, Tuesday night.

The homers for Swisher and Teixeira came in the bottom of the seventh, after Elvis Andrus broke up the no-hit bid in the top portion.

Kuroda (11-8) allowed two hits, walked two and fanned five to earn his second shutout of the season and fourth of his career, as the AL East leaders won for the sixth time in their last seven contests.

"He's probably been overall our most consistent guy," Yankees catcher Russell Martin said. "Every fifth day he gives us a chance to win. He's been awesome and it just seems like he's getting stronger and stronger as the year goes on."

Matt Harrison (13-7) was charged with five hits and a run over 6 1/3 innings for the AL West-leading Rangers, who have lost seven in a row at Yankee Stadium.

Andrus started the seventh inning by grounding a ball up the middle. Shortstop Jayson Nix made a diving stop and his throw was wide to first. Andrus, who would have beaten the throw, went to second on a fly ball from Josh Hamilton and to third on a wild pitch with two outs. Nelson Cruz grounded weakly to second to end the frame.

Derek Jeter singled to center with one out in the bottom half of the seventh. Alexi Ogando then replaced Harrison, but served up Swisher's 16th homer of the year.

"It got to the point there where I felt like I could beat them with Ogando's velocity," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He came in and didn't get the job done. If I had to do it again, I'd put Ogando in any of those situations."

Swisher, who homered and had five RBI in New York's 8-2 win Monday, was pushed to eight pitches in his at-bat before he crushed a high fastball over the wall in right-center field.

"I was so happy. I believe tenacity pays off at the end and you have to persevere to the end," Kuroda said through an interpreter. "You have to believe your guys will back you up. That's what he did."

Teixeira then lined a 2-1 offering over the wall in right field for his 23rd homer of the season.

Michael Young singled to center field leading off the eighth, but David Murphy immediately grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Kuroda faced the minimum that inning.

Ichiro Suzuki caught Ian Kinsler's drive to left on the warning track for the second out of the ninth. Andrus then grounded out to second base.

Game Notes

The Rangers agreed to terms with catcher Koyie Hill on a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock ... The Yankees haven't had a no- hitter since July 18, 1999 when David Cone threw a perfect game against the Montreal Expos ... Harrison threw 106 pitches, three less than Kuroda ... Kuroda's other shutout this year came in a rain-shortened game against Toronto on July 18.






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