Scoring in each of the first three innings, the The Texas Rangers again started out with a bang against the New York Yankees but this time their bullpen was able to hold on for a 7-2 win and allow Texas to even the ALCS at one game apiece.

The Rangers jumped all over Yankees starter Phil Hughes, scoring one run in the first and a pair of runs in the second, third and fifth. All said and done, Hughes finished the day with a line of four innings pitched and seven earned runs allowed.

Four batters on the Rangers tallied multi-hit games. Mitch Moreland notched a pair of singles and Nelson Cruz rapped two doubles against the Yankees. David Murphy knocked the Rangers only homerun on the night, a solo shot off Hughes in the second inning. Elvis Andrus was the final Ranger with a pair of hits, and he also stole home to give the Rangers their first run.

For the second night in a row, the Yankees offense had trouble scoring off the Rangers starter. C.J. Wilson allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings while striking out six batters.

Robinson Cano was the only Yankee with two hits, one of them a solo homerun, and he scored both of the Yankees runs.

The Rangers bullpen, which imploded last night against the Yankees lineup, was sharp today, allowing just one hit over the final 3.1 innings. Although Neftali Feliz (who didn’t take part in last night’s meltdown) walked two batters in the ninth he was able to shut the door.

Game Three will be Monday Night in New York and will feature Rangers ace Cliff Lee, who has been dominant in his in both of his trips to the postseason. The Yankees will counter with veteran Andy Pettitte, whose 19 postseason wins are the most all-time.

Used with permission of the author.

 Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.

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