Jul 28, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (R) is congratulated by catcher John Ryan Murphy (66) after scoring a run against the Texas Rangers during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. (Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports)
ARLINGTON, Texas — The New York Yankees were down five runs after the first inning. It mattered little to the Bronx Bombers.
Buoyed by a record 11-run second inning, the Yankees stormed back and pummeled the Texas Rangers 21-5 Tuesday night at Globe Life Park.
New York (57-42) has won the first two games of the four-game series and improved to 2-3 against Texas this season. The Yankees are also 4-1 on their 10-game road trip, having scored 42 runs during their four-game winning streak.
New York had never scored 11 runs in the second inning before.
Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius continued to carve up Texas pitching in the series with a career-high four hits to go along three RBIs and two runs. He is 7-for-9 in the two games with a home run and seven runs driven in.
New York right fielder Chris Young went 3-for-6 with a grand slam, two doubles and career-high five RBIs. Left fielder Brett Gardner (3-5) hit a two-run homer in the ninth and scored a career-best five runs.
New York racked up 19 hits, but perhaps more impressive was the outing of rookie Diego Moreno out of Triple-A and the bullpen. The 28-year-old right-hander, called up before the game, came on with two outs in the first inning and didn’t give up a hit in 5 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his first major league win.
Moreno is the first Yankees reliever to put up those numbers and get the win since 1956.
Texas (47-52) has lost 12 of its last 13 at Glove Life Park, falling to a major-league worst 16-28 at home. The Rangers didn’t get a hit after the first inning.
Neither of the starters pitched more than an inning in a wild start that saw 21 runs scored in the first three innings.
Yankees starter Chris Capuano, making his first start since May, labored through 42 pitches in the first inning and gave up five runs before getting yanked with two outs in the first. The Rangers needed just three hits after taking advantage of three walks.
New York came all the way back and then some in the second against Texas starter Martin Perez. The first eight Yankees got aboard on seven hits and a hit batter, signaling the end for the Ranger lefty after eight earned runs.
Second baseman Brendan Ryan ripped two doubles in the innings, driving in three runs. Gregorius smashed a bases-loaded triple. Third baseman Chase Headley had a pair of run-scoring singles.
By the time the Yankees were done, they had sent 15 to the plate and reached double digits on the scoreboard.
Former starter Wandy Rodriguez replaced Perez and didn’t fare much better. The left-handed veteran was knocked out in the third after giving up a grand slam to right fielder Chris Young.
NOTES: New York RHP Ivan Nova left Monday’s start after 75 pitches because of arm “fatigue.” He plans to make his next scheduled start, adding, “I’m not hurt.” … Texas came into Tuesday with the fewest home wins (16) in baseball and the most road victories (31). … Rangers LHP Sam Freeman leads the majors in appearances in July with 14, sporting a 0.00 ERA for the month. … The Yankees’ seven-game lead in the AL East coming into the game was their largest since July 12, 2012. … New York has won five straight games against left-handed starters. … Texas’ 89 starting lineups are the second most in baseball behind Houston (95).
