Yankees-Rangers: New York Knocks Off Texas, Ends Two-Game Skid

Coming off two losses to the Texas Rangers, the New York Yankees defeated the Rangers 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Sidney Ponson started for the Bronx Bombers and did a good job of playing the role of the stopper. Ponson went 6.1 innings, allowed three runs on six hits, walked one, and struck out four.

The young 22 year-old Tommy Hunter took the hill for Texas. Hunter went 4.1 innings and surrendered five runs on eight hits, walked none, and struck out four.

The Rangers could have blown the game open and distanced themselves from the Yankees in the bottom of the second inning. Robinson Cano caught a line drive that was originally ruled a ground ball. The umpires appealed the call and ruled it a lineout.

However, the Rangers would put two on the board in the inning, as Chris Davis singled to left field to score Josh Hamilton and Marlon Byrd.

Also in the bottom of the second, David Murphy collided with Yankees' catcher Ivan Rodriguez at home plate. Rodriguez put Murphy out to end the inning, but both players left the game with injuries. Rodriguez bruised his knee and is day-to-day.

With Texas up by two, the Yankees came alive and took the lead away in the top of the third. Wilson Betemit doubled to score Cano. Johnny Damon followed with a groundout to first, but Jose Molina scored on the play, and Derek Jeter singled to score Betemit.

With the Yankees leading 3-2 in the top of the fourth, Jason Giambi clobbered a solo home run to lead off the inning, his 22nd of the year, giving the Yanks a 4-2 edge.

The Yankees tacked another run on in the top half of the fifth inning, when Jeter doubled to score Damon and put the Yankees up by three.

Texas would get a run back in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run from Michael Young, his 10th of the year.

However, the Yankees' bullpen was too much for Texas. Edwar Ramirez, Damaso Marte, and Jose Veras all contributed to the pitching effort, and Mariano Rivera shut the door in the ninth, nailing down a necessary win for the Yankees.

Ponson captured the win and improves to 7-2 overall.

Hunter takes the loss and is now 0-1.

Ramirez, Marte, and Veras all recorded holds, and Rivera nailed down his 27th save of the year. Rivera remains a perfect 27 for 27 in save opportunities this season.

Tomorrow night at 8:05 ET, the Yankees will look to split, while Texas looks to take the series.

Yankees' starter Mike Mussina (14-7, 3.44 ERA) will square off against Texas' Scott Feldman (4-4, 4.97 ERA).

The Yankees will certainly need to pitch well, as they learned the bad news today that they will have to place starting pitcher Joba Chamberlain on the 15-day disabled list with rotator-cuff tendonitis.