Rangers 8 - 5 Yankees
Final
  for this game

Yankees go for series win over Rangers

Jun 26, 2013 - 2:12 PM

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(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees hope to continue their home mastery of the Texas Rangers on Wednesday when the two clubs continue their three-game set from Yankee Stadium.

New York won the opener of this series in thrilling fashion on Tuesday, as Ichiro Suzuki hit a solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Yankees to a 4-3 triumph.

Tanner Scheppers (5-1), who pitched a scoreless eighth, stayed on to pitch the ninth. After Brett Gardner was caught stealing for the second out, Suzuki smacked a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right.

"It's a great win for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Coming off an off day and being able to beat a pretty great pitcher. I think it's a pretty big win."

Gardner, Jayson Nix and Travis Hafner also hit solo homers for the Yankees, who have won three of four overall and beat the Rangers for the 16th time in their last 21 meetings in the Bronx.

New York starter Hiroki Kuroda allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings. Mariano Rivera (1-1) tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up the win.

Leonys Martin hit a pair of solo homers for the Rangers, who had a five-game winning streak stopped. Mitch Moreland added an RBI.

Texas starter Yu Darvish gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings.

"They swung the bat to beat us," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "You hate to loss a ball game. They beat us with four swings of the bat, four solo home runs."

On Wednesday New York will rely on veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte, who has lost his last two starts since earning career win No. 250. Pettitte lost to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, as he was hit for five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings to fall to 5-5 to go along with a 4.20 ERA.

"I just need to be better," Pettitte said afterward. "I need to shut these guys down once in a while and give us a chance to score first one time instead of always being in a hole. And I feel like I'm putting us in a hole every time out right now."

Pettitte has faced the Rangers 23 times and is 11-9 against them with a 5.24 ERA.

Texas, meanwhile, will counter with righty Justin Grimm, who is 6-5 with a 6.57 ERA. Grimm beat the Oakland Athletics last Wednesday, holding them to three runs and three hits in five innings.

Grimm, who has never faced the Yankees, could be in some trouble on Wednesday, as he has pitched to a 7.01 ERA in seven road starts.






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