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Yanks' nine-run seventh helps New York top Texas

Baseball Betting Lines

07/03/2008 - Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Giambi belted a grand slam and drove in six runs as New York broke out of an offensive slump and avoided a sweep by trouncing Texas, 18-7, in the finale of a three-game set.

The 18 runs were a season-high for the Yankees as were the nine runs scored in the seventh inning. New York had managed to scratch out just four runs in its previous three games.

Alex Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and scored four runs for the Yankees, who snapped a three-game skid. Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu each added two RBI apiece.

"This was a big win for us," Giambi said. "We have been struggling and I am just glad I could contribute and pick up the ball club. "

Sidney Ponson, who was designated for assignment on June 6 by the Rangers after a series of transgressions, was touched for seven runs on nine hits in five-plus innings against his former team. The right-hander was picked up by his offense, however, and received a no-decision.

"My mechanics weren't there and I didn't get the ball where I wanted too," Ponson said. "It's always frustrating when you give up that many runs and I'm just happy the hitters came through."

Edwar Ramirez (2-0) earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

Milton Bradley and Chris Davis both had two-run homers for the Rangers, who lost for the first time in four games. Josh Hamilton chipped in with a two-run single, while Ian Kinsler was 1-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Luis Mendoza started on the hill and allowed six runs -- five unearned -- on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Warner Madrigal (0-1) took the loss after being walloped for six runs on five hits in just one-third on an inning.

"We just couldn't get anybody out late in the game," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Sometimes that happens especially against that lineup."

Trailing by a run, the Yankees took control of the game when they batted around in the seventh and hung up the season-best nine runs against the Rangers bullpen. Abreu led off the frame with a broken-bat, bloop double down the left field line off Madrigal. After Rodriguez walked, Giambi sliced a two-run double into the gap in left-center to put New York in front for good.

Posada followed that with another run-scoring two-bagger. Robinson Cano kept the pressure on from there with a ground ball single to right and Wilson Betemit plated Posada with a ground ball to second. Brett Gardner followed by slapping an RBI single to right, his first major league hit and Rangers manager Ron Washington had seen enough of Madrigal at that point.

Gardner greeted Jamey Wright by swiping second and Damon quickly drove in the speedy outfielder with a single to left. Wright finally got the second-out of the inning by getting Derek Jeter on a ground out but things were far from over. Abreu walked before Rodriguez went the other way and lined a three- run homer over the wall in right to give the Yankees a 15-7 lead. The home run gave Rodriguez 535 in his career, passing Jimmie Foxx for sole possession of 14th on the all-time major league list.

Damon added an RBI single and Abreu had a two-run single in the eighth to account for the final margin.

"We took advantage of some walks and errors and that's what you expect this offense to do," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We have been struggling but we really started to swing the bats and that's always possible with this club."

The Yankees took the early lead in the second when Rodriguez singled to left, moved to second on a Posada ground out and came around to score on Cano's two- out double.

The Rangers bounced right back with a three-run rally in the third. Brandon Boggs led off with a single, moved up 90-feet on Kinsler's one-out base hit and crossed the plate when Michael Young sliced a double to right. Hamilton then capped the frame with a two-run single up the middle.

The Yankees went back on top thanks to a two-out Giambi grand slam in the bottom of the third. After Damon lined a one-out single to right, Jeter hit a tailor-made double play ball to Kinsler but the second baseman flubbed the play, keeping the inning alive. Rodriguez followed by drawing a walk to load the bases before Giambi crushed his 13th career grand slam into the upper deck in right.

New York added a run in the fifth. With the bases loaded and two down, reliever Joaquin Benoit issued a walk to Posada to force in a run. Things could have been worse for Texas, however. Cano ripped a hot shot down the first base line that could have cleared the bases but Davis made a brilliant diving stab at first and beat Cano to first to end the inning.

That looked like a huge play at the time because Texas used the long ball to go back in front in the sixth. Hamilton led off the frame with a walk and Bradley followed by crushing a Ponson pitch over the wall in right for his 17th home run of the year. Frank Catalanotto kept the inning going with an infield single and Davis belted another home run to dead center that gave the Rangers a 7-6 edge.

Game Notes

Young left the game in the fourth inning with a mild left groin strain. Young, who was 1-for-2 with an RBI double before leaving, was replaced by Ramon Vazquez. He was listed as day-to-day...Rodriguez is now just one behind the legendary Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run list...Giambi was hit by a pitch for the 14th time this season. That leads the American League...Gardner was 0-for-11 before getting his first hit...Ponson was 4-1 with a 3.88 earned run average in nine starts with the Rangers before being released.