Yankees 6, Rangers 5
Eric Chavez's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the New York Yankees to a 6-5 win over the visiting Texas Rangers on Sunday night.
The Yankees bumped up their major-league leading home run total, but it was a hit and run that gave them the victory. Chavez rapped a single to center field off Arthur Rhodes (0-1) that scored Mark Teixeira from second base as New York (9-5) took two of three from Texas (10-5) to avenge a loss in last year’s American League Championship Series.
Three Yankees homered off Texas starter Alexi Ogando, who entered the contest with a spotless ERA. Ogando allowed five earned runs on six hits and struck out only one in 6 1/3 innings.
Curtis Granderson belted a two-run shot off Ogando in the sixth that put the Yankees up 5-4. It was the 27th home run for the Yankees, who were playing without injured third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
Russell Martin and Robinson Cano also went deep in the victory.
Michael Young went 3-for-4 for Texas to extend his hitting streak in the Bronx to 15 games. His RBI double in the seventh inning tied the game.
Rafael Soriano (1-0) earned the win for New York and Mariano Rivera recorded his MLB-best seventh save. New York starter CC Sabathia remained winless after giving up four earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.