Prince parks pair as Rangers outslug Yanks
NEW YORK -- Prince Fielder connected for a pair of long home runs, driving in a season-high four runs while helping the Rangers hold on for a 10-9 victory over the Yankees on Friday at Yankee Stadium.
Texas hung a seven-run third inning on New York starter Michael Pineda, who contributed to the jam with a throwing error. Fielder and Mitch Moreland slugged homers in the big frame, while Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo also drove in runs against Pineda, who was charged with four earned runs on eight hits over six innings.
"It's about scoring more runs than the other team," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "Tough ballpark, the game is never over until the last out. Gutsy performance by our guys."
Video: Must C Crushed: Fielder launches two home runs
Colby Lewis scattered eight hits over 6 2/3 innings to pick up his fourth victory of the season, withstanding a four-run New York fourth that featured Didi Gregorius' first homer in pinstripes, a three-run shot. Texas added three runs against the softer sections of the Yankees' bullpen before Garrett Jones slugged a three-run, pinch-hit homer in the eighth to trim the lead.
Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run in the ninth, making it a one-run game, but Ross Ohlendorf slammed the door for his first career save. The Yankees have lost eight of their last nine games.
Video: TEX@NYY: Teixeira clobbers a solo home run in the 9th
"I'd look at the extra outs we gave them. That's been the difference," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's been happening in this streak a little bit and it has cost us a couple of games."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Rangers' bottom flourishes: The Rangers got a big night from the bottom four hitters of their order. Elvis Andrus, Leonys Martin, Robinson Chirinos and Thomas Field were a combined 6-for-12 with two walks and four runs scored. Field also had a two-run double in the eighth.
"They had a nice night," Banister said. "That's what we need."
Video: TEX@NYY: Field pads the lead with a two-run double
Didi goes deep: Gregorius atoned for some issues in the field, including an error on a DeShields grounder that helped set up the big seven-run inning, by slugging his first homer in pinstripes in the fourth. Gregorius' three-run shot off Lewis trimmed the Yankees' deficit to 7-4 and snapped a string of 205 homerless at-bats for the shortstop, who last cleared the wall on Aug. 23, 2014, while with the D-backs.
Video: NYY@TEX: Gregorius smashes a three-run homer to right
"For me, it was good, but it wasn't good overall because we lost the game," Gregorius said. "If it was in a win, I'd appreciate it more." More >
Lewis responds to adversity: Lewis gave up four runs in the fourth, a frame that could have been scoreless if right fielder Choo had not lost a one-out line drive by Brian McCann in the lights. It went for a run-scoring double and preceded the home run. But Lewis got out of the inning, then retired the side in order in the fifth on just five pitches. He needed just 12 pitches to retire three straight hitters in the sixth.
Mr. Jones strikes up a conversation: Jones was sent up to pinch-hit in the eighth after the Rangers brought in right-hander Tanner Scheppers, and the slugger responded by mashing his first homer in pinstripes, a three-run shot to right field. It was the Yanks' third pinch-hit home run of the season.
Video: TEX@NYY: Jones lifts a three-run homer into the seats
Made in the Slade: Rookie Slade Heathcott made his first Major League start and continued to impress the Yankees' coaching staff with his all-out attitude, stretching a single into a double in the third inning and finishing the night 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Video: TEX@NYY: Heathcott rips a double for first career hit
"Every base in this game counts, whether the score is 11-0 or we're down," the 24-year-old Heathcott said. "Doesn't matter. Every base counts. Same as in the field, you've got to stop runners from advancing when you can." More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Alex Rodriguez's run-scoring single in the seventh inning marked the 1,992nd RBI of his career, tying Babe Ruth for fourth place on the all-time list, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Lou Gehrig is third with 1,993 RBIs, according to Elias, which begins counting RBIs when they became an official Major League stat in 1920. More >
Video: TEX@NYY: A-Rod ties Ruth on all-time RBI list
IN REVIEW
The Rangers had another challenge go against them in the second. Andrus tried to steal with two outs and was thrown out by McCann. Texas challenged the call, but it was confirmed after a review. The Rangers have lost their last seven challenges and are 4-14 on the season.
Video: TEX@NYY: McCann throws out Andrus at second base
WHAT'S NEXT
Rangers: Right-hander Nick Martinez will pitch for the Rangers at 12:05 p.m. CT on Saturday against the Yankees in the Bronx. Martinez went to school at nearby Fordham and will be making his second career start at Yankee Stadium. He threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees on July 22, 2014.
Yankees: Left-hander CC Sabathia will try for his third straight victory when the Yankees host the Rangers on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Sabathia tied a season-low by permitting six hits at Kansas City last time out. He is 11-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 18 career starts vs. Texas, but has not faced them since 2012.
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