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 The duo combined to lead the New York Yankees to a 6-2 win over the
Texas Rangers on Monday night.
Rodriguez hit a solo homer in the sixth inning, a blast that was
sandwiched by two big hits from Gregorius, who set a career high
with four RBIs and matched his career best with three hits.
The Yankees are 3-1 on their 10-game road trip, while the Rangers
fell for the 11th time in their past 12 games at Globe Life Park.
The big night for Gregorius should come as no surprise as the
shortstop has three of his five homers this year against the
Rangers. Four of his eight career round-trippers came against Texas.
Gregorius tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run off Matt
Harrison in the third inning and then broke it open with a two-run
single to right in the seventh.
"I just think he's just maturing as a player," New York manager Joe
Girardi said of Gregorius. "He got off to a slow start, and (we've)
just kind of seen an upward kick the whole season. This has been his
best month. June was better than May, May was better than April."
Gregorius helped make a winner out of Ivan Nova, who allowed two
runs in the second inning but that was it in his five-inning outing.
Nova allowed five hits and struck out two before turning the game
over to the New York bullpen, which produced four hitless innings.
Harrison, who was making his third start since returning from spinal
fusion surgery, allowed six runs on six hits in six-plus innings.
"I feel like I didn't get loose until about the fifth inning," he
said. "The third inning I made some bad pitches to start that inning
off and got some trouble there. After us scoring the two runs, I
went and gave it back to them, gave the momentum right back to
them."
Texas took a 2-0 lead in the second on an RBI double by shortstop
Elvis Andrus and a run-scoring single from center fielder Leonys
Martin. That would be all the offense for the Rangers, who finished
with five hits.
After not getting a hit in the first two innings, the Yankees jumped
on Harrison for three runs on three hits in the third. Gregorius
followed a single by third baseman Chase Headley his homer to tie
the game.
Second baseman Brendan Ryan lined a triple into the corner, and left
fielder Chris Young's sacrifice fly to left put the Yankees on top
3-2.
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Rodriguez, who has hit six homers on his birthday, including four at
Globe Life Park, got into the action with his shot to right off
Harrison in the sixth. It was the designated hitter's fourth home
run in the past three days. He became the fourth player to ever
homer as a teen and in his 40s.
"It's amazing," Rodriguez said. "Hitting one as a teenager and
hitting one here today. A lot has happened, and I'm just happy to be
here."
Despite the poor results, Texas manager Jeff Banister saw some
positives from Harrison.
"Good hitters capitalize on their approach more than anything else,"
Banister said. "Some hard-hit balls and some balls that fell in that
weren't hard hit also. I felt that Matt utilized his pitches as good
as he could tonight."
NOTES: Texas 2B Rougned Odor was named the American League player of
the week after batting .385 with three home runs and eight RBIs in
six games last week. ... Texas recalled RHP Phil Klein from Triple-A
Round Rock for bullpen depth and sent RHP Anthony Bass to Round
Rock. Bass is second in the AL in innings pitched by a reliever at
51 2/3 innings. ... Texas designated RHP Ross Ohlendorf for
assignment. Ohlendorf made eight appearances for Texas earlier this
year but had been on the disabled list with a strained right groin.
... New York OF Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup one day after
jamming his left shoulder. Ellsbury received treatment on his
shoulder and expects to play Tuesday. ... New York RHP Bryan
Mitchell, who is in Triple-A, was originally slated to start
Tuesday's game against the Rangers but hit his head doing exercises
over the weekend. Manager Joe Girardi said Mitchell is fine now but
won't get the start.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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