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Yankees target another big night vs. Rangers in the Bronx

Jun 15, 2011 - 3:05 PM (Sports Network) - The Derek Jeter 3,000 hit watch may be stalled for a bit, but the New York Yankees offense didn't seem to miss him on Tuesday. Tonight, the Yankees go after a fifth win in six games when they play the second test of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium.

After getting blanked by Cleveland on Monday, the Yanks' bats exploded in the opener of this set last night, as Curtis Granderson continued his power surge with a home run and four RBI, helping New York knock out Alexi Ogando in the second inning en route to a 12-4 rout.

Jeter, in the midst of becoming the first Yankee to ever reach the magical number of 3,000 hits, was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time since 2003 before the game due to a strained right calf.

"I guess the timing wasn't very good," Jeter said. "It's a little bit frustrating, but even if I wasn't at this point, I'd still be frustrated.I don't like not to play, whether it's going for 3,000 hits or 100 hits. It really doesn't make a difference to me. I'd rather be out there playing."

New York banged out 14 hits without their captain, though, as Granderson, Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher each homered and Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs apiece in the triumph.

Jeter's replacement Eduardo Nunez finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

CC Sabathia (8-4) was the beneficiary of the run support in a so-so outing that saw the lefty allow four runs on eight hits over seven innings.

"The run support has been great. It makes you go out, relax and pound the strike zone," a grateful Sabathia said. "They put up some great at-bats."

Ogando (7-1) was handed his first loss of the season in easily his shortest outing, getting touched for six runs on six hits while recording only five outs.

Michael Young, the Rangers' all-time leader in at-bats, hits, singles, doubles, triples, and multi-hit games, added another franchise record to his resume by playing in his 1,574th game with the club. He recorded a two-run single in the loss, Texas' sixth in eight games.

Tonight, New York will rely on right-handed rookie Ivan Nova, who is 5-4 with a 4.30 ERA. Nova beat the Cleveland Indians on Friday, holding them to a pair of runs and four hits in seven innings.

Nova had his best outing of the year the last time he faced the Rangers, as he gave up just an unearned run two hits in 7 1/3 frames. He is 1-1 in two starts against them with a 3.86 ERA.

Getting the call for the Rangers this evening will be left-hander Derek Holland, who is 5-1 with a 4.41 earned run average and hasn't lost since May 16. However, that loss came against the Yankees, as he allowed five runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Holland, who is 0-3 lifetime versus the Yankees, did not get a decision on Thursday in Minnesota, as he surrendered four runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 frames of his team's 5-4 loss.

"I know my record hasn't been that good here, outside of the playoffs, but I like pitching here," Holland said of Yankee Stadium. "I like being in a place where fans are rooting against me, booing me, wanting me to do bad.

"For the most part, I am a much more confident pitcher. I have done a lot of work getting ready for this."

The Yankees have won five of seven from the Rangers this season.