ARLINGTON, Texas – New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi figures he will never see another game like this one, especially after trailing 5-0 in the first inning.
The Yankees charged back in a hurry, with an 11-run second inning and 8 1-3 hitless innings of relief to overcome the Texas Rangers, 21-5, on Tuesday night.
“Strange,” Girardi said. “I don’t know if I’ve been a part of that where you give up five in the first and you don’t give up another hit the rest of the game, and you score 21 runs. I don’t know if I’ll ever see that again.”
The AL East-leading Yankees scored the most runs in the majors this season, winning for the eighth time in nine games. They are a majors-best 16-5 in July – matching their most wins in a month since August 2013.
Brendan Ryan doubled twice with three RBIs and Didi Gregorious had a bases-loaded triple in the 11-run second. A day after his 40th birthday, Alex Rodriguez had an RBI double off the top of the 14-foot wall in left field that made it 6-5 and chased starter Martin Perez (0-2).
Chris Young started the big inning with a double and scored the first of his two runs in the frame when Chase Headley had the first of his two RBI singles in the inning. Young added his fourth career grand slam in the third.
“It was fun. Not just mine, but everybody, to be able to come back in the second inning ... being able to come together and put up quality at-bats,” Young said. “It was amazing.”
Along with all the offense, the Yankees got a huge boost from right-hander Diego Moreno (1-0), who after being recalled earlier Tuesday took over for spot starter Chris Capuano with two outs in the first.