Swept In The City

Rangers blow three-game set with the Yankees in New York, prove there's still much work to be done - especially in the fielding department. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Three-days, three-games and three-straight losses by the Texas Rangers (5-7) to the New York Yankees (9-4). The Rangers were outscored by a combined 17-6 in a series that showed Texas has a long way to go to catch up to the likes of the Yankees.

Friday's game was stopped after six innings due to rain and the end couldn't come soon enough for the Rangers. Yankees' pitcher C.C. Sabathia dominated Rangers' hitters, striking out nine and allowing only one run in the 1st inning on a sac fly by Vladimir Guerrero.

"I mean that's about as good as we've seen him," Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said. "He was outstanding tonight."

The Rangers themselves had some solid starting pitching, but squandered it yet again with sloppy play in the field. New York scored their first three runs thanks to Rangers' fielders miscues (namely first baseman Chris Davis who had two errors). Starter C.J. Wilson struck out five and allowed three earned runs, but his teammates let him down.

"We've just got to tighten up our defense," Manager Ron Washington said. "We're just not making the plays."

New York 5  Texas 1

Saturday afternoon was more of the same Yankees dominance. Yanks' starter A.J. Burnett won his second game of the season, pitching seven innings of scoreless baseball and striking out seven Rangers.

Scott Feldman, on the other hand, gave up seven hits and four earned runs in 2 1-3 innings, even though New York had trouble hitting the ball out of the infield. Feldman threw wide of the base for one infield single, then walked in a run, and finally allowed another infield single to Mark Texeira that gave New York a 2-0 lead.

"If I make that play, then it's a totally different game," Feldman said. "If I could have made that play, who knows?"

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez sealed the win with home runs in the third (two-run shot by Jeter) and fourth (solo home run by A-Rod) innings. Nelson Cruz hit a two-run home run in the eighth-innings, his seventh of the season.

New York 7  Texas 3

In Sunday's game,the Rangers actually took their first (and only) lead of the series as they scored two runs in the third inning, taking a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the inning. New York immediately retaliated, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third on a Mark Teixera solo home run and Ramiro Pena (who filled in for Derek Jeter at short stop) two-run single.

Andy Pettitte followed in Sabathia's and Burnett's footsteps with a solid outing. In eight innings he allowed only two runs on four hits for his second win of the season. For the series, Yankees' starters allowed a total of three runs in three games.

"Everything's going our way right now," Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said.

New York 5  Texas 2

Needless to say, this was a pretty disappointing series against one of the best teams in baseball. Texas couldn't hit nor field. At least the pitching staff looked decent. Luckily for the Rangers they have a lot of time to figure this thing out and they don't have to play the Yankees - who are playing some excellent baseball at the moment - every day

What's Next

Texas travels to Boston to take on a Red Sox team in disarray. Boston has lost five straight games and has their worst record at this point of the season in 14 years.

The game starts at 6:10 p.m., Tuesday night.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)