Rangers Lose Slugfest

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ARLINGTON, Texas — The New York Yankees rallied from a three-run deficit, then held on for a 12-11 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday when Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre flied out with the bases loaded for the final out in the ninth.

“Strange game, but it’s great to get out with a win,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

The teams combined for 23 runs and 27 hits, in what was a thrilling offensive endeavor that had the home fans on their feet with their best hitter at the plate in the final, crucial moment.

“I would want (Beltre) up there every single night,” Rangers first baseman J.P. Arencibia said.

Yankees closer David Robertson allowed two runs and had the bases to get loaded in the final inning but got the out when it counted.

“That is about as bad as you can suck at the end and still get one of the best hitters in baseball out…lucky,” Robertson said.

For the second consecutive night, Yankees left fielder and leadoff man Brett Gardner hammered the Rangers, going 4-for-5 while hitting two doubles, a home run and a single. The previous evening he had two homers and a single.

Arencibia had a big night in a losing cause, hitting two doubles and two home runs for seven RBIs.

“I had a good game and felt good in my confidence,” Arencibia said. “I wanted to help my

team win and I did my best, but it wasn’t enough.”

Righty Brandon McCarthy (3-0), making his fourth start for the Yankees, gave up nine hits and four earned runs in six innings pitched to get the win.

Rangers’ starter, right-handed Nick Martinez (1-7), took the loss, giving up a home run to Gardner to start the night and running into serious trouble in the sixth. His final line was six hits, six earned runs and two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

“I stuck with my game plan (after the Gardner home run),” Martinez said. “He is just a hot hitter right now. I would have liked to finish tonight on a better note.”

The Yankees improved to 21-7 when leading after the first inning this season, despite falling behind in the middle frames and giving up ground in the seventh.

The Yankees trailed 4-1 entering the sixth inning, but scored seven runs in that frame to take command.

A Gardner double, a single from shortstop Derek Jeter and a walk to first baseman Mark Teixeira loaded the bases. Designated hitter Carlos Beltran drove in two runs with a single, and catcher Brian McCann tied the score with a sacrifice fly.

Right-hander Shawn Tolleson was brought in to relieve Martinez at that point. New York right fielder Zoilo Almonte added an RBI single, and second baseman Brendan Ryan drove in two more with a double.

Gardner hit a ball that bounced off the glove of right fielder Alex Rios and then off center fielder Leonys Martin’s head for an error that scored the final run of the inning, making it 8-4.

“He was calling for it, that is what I saw on the replay, but I never heard him,” Leonys Martin said of Rios. “I called it a little early but we have to make that play.”

Two walks helped the Yankees score two more in the seventh with Chase Headley and Almonte getting the RBIs against Texas hurler Roman Mendez.

The Rangers got back in the game in the bottom of the seventh when Arencibia hit a grand slam to trim the deficit to 10-8.

Teixeira made it 12-8 with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth, and Beltre had an RBI groundout in the bottom of the inning.

In the ninth, shortstop Elvis Andrus hit a two-out, two-run single off Robertson to get Texas within one. But with the bases loaded, Robertson got Beltre to fly out on a 3-2 pitch.

Texas had taken the lead early in the game.

In the third, Rios and Beltre singled. Left fielder Jim Adduci plated Rios on a single, and Beltre and Adduci came home on a double from Arencibia, putting the Rangers on top 3-1.

Arencibia drilled a two-out solo shot in the fifth inning, pushing Texas’ advantage to three runs.

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