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Yanks hope to support Gordon in first start vs. Rangers

Jun 16, 2011 - 2:51 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees may be a bit short-handed in the pitching department at the moment, but their offense has been making up the difference lately.

The Bronx Bombers will try to keep swinging some hot bats when journeyman Brian Gordon makes a long-awaited first start in the major leagues in this afternoon's matchup with the Texas Rangers from Yankee Stadium.

With Bartolo Colon forced to the disabled list after injuring his hamstring in a win over Cleveland last Saturday, the Yankees were in need of an emergency fill-in for today's finale of this three-game series. The team decided to call upon Gordon, a 32-year-old former outfielder who's spent virtually all of his 15 professional seasons in the minors with five different organizations.

In fact, Gordon wasn't even property of the Yankees until Tuesday, when he was signed immediately after exercising an opt-out clause with the Phillies. The right-hander had been pitching splendidly for Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley, compiling a 5-0 record along with an International League-best 1.14 earned run average in 12 appearances (nine starts) with the Iron Pigs.

"He's had an outstanding season in Triple-A for the Phillies," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Gordon. "It is his day to start, he's actually on his regular turn. Seen a little film on him. Not a ton, but a little bit. Seems to throw a lot of strikes, has good command, has a curveball, slider, changeup, and he's a veteran guy."

Gordon, who converted full-time to pitching in 2007, actually participated in three games as a reliever with the Rangers in September of 2008, his only experience in the big leagues. The Texas native allowed a total of one run over four combined innings in those outings.

He'd certainly love it if his new teammates continue their offensive onslaught from the first two meetings of this set. After pounding out 14 hits and swatting three home runs in a 12-4 rout of the Rangers in Tuesday's opener, the Yankees went deep five times to top Texas by the same exact score last night.

Former Ranger Mark Teixeira led the barrage by cracking his 20th and 21st long balls of the season and finished 3-for-5 with four RBI, while Robinson Cano capped the scoring with a three-run blast in the eighth inning. Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena also homered to help New York prevail for the fifth time in its last six games.

Nunez ended 2-for-4 in his second straight start replacing Derek Jeter at shortstop. The Yankee captain, six hits shy of reaching the coveted 3,000 milestone for his career, was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday after straining his calf against Cleveland the previous day.

Ivan Nova was the beneficiary of Wednesday's outburst, with the young righty picking up his sixth win of the season after giving up four runs over the first 5 2/3 innings.

Rangers starter Derek Holland served up the first two Yankee homers and was tagged for six runs over five innings of work.

Ian Kinsler had a solo homer and Josh Hamilton went 3-for-5 with an RBI single for the defending American League champion Rangers, who have now lost a season-high four straight contests and have had their lead over second-place Seattle shrink to one game in the AL West race.

"We need somebody to go out there and pitch a good game," manager Ron Washington said about his team's current struggles.

Texas bested the Yankees in six games during last October's ALCS to advance to its first-ever World Series, but New York has had the upper hand so far in this year's season set, having taken six of the eight bouts between the clubs.

The Rangers will turn to C.J. Wilson in hopes of stopping the bleeding this afternoon, and the ace lefty may be up to the task based on his recent performances. He's 3-0 with a strong 2.28 ERA over his last four starts and comes in off a sharp seven-inning effort to defeat Minnesota on Friday.

Wilson held the Twins to three runs and scattered eight hits to improve his 2011 record to 7-3, and his 83 strikeouts thus far ranks eighth among AL hurlers.

The former closer hasn't had much past success when facing New York, however, having gone 0-3 with 4.12 ERA over three starts and 20 overall appearances against the pinstripes during the regular season. Wilson also went 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in a pair of starts versus the Yankees in last year's ALCS.