Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Hiroki Kuroda took a no-hitter into the seventh
inning, and Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira belted back-to-back homers, as the
New York Yankees topped the Texas Rangers, 3-0, Tuesday night.
The homers for Swisher and Teixeira came in the bottom of the seventh, after
Elvis Andrus broke up the no-hit bid in the top portion.
Kuroda (11-8) allowed two hits, walked two and fanned five to earn his second
shutout of the season and fourth of his career, as the AL East leaders won for
the sixth time in their last seven contests.
Matt Harrison (13-7) was charged with five hits and a run over 6 1/3 innings
for the AL West-leading Rangers, who have lost seven in a row at Yankee
Stadium.
Andrus started the seventh inning by grounding a ball up the middle. Shortstop
Jayson Nix made a diving stop and his throw was wide to first. Andrus, who
would have beaten the throw, went to second on a fly ball from Josh Hamilton
and to third on a wild pitch with two outs. Nelson Cruz grounded weakly to
second to end the frame.
Derek Jeter singled to center with one out in the bottom half of the seventh.
Alexi Ogando then replaced Harrison, but served up Swisher's 16th homer of the
year.
Swisher, who homered and had five RBI in New York's 8-2 win Monday, was pushed
to eight pitches in his at-bat before he crushed a high fastball over the wall
in right-center field. Teixeira then lined a 2-1 offering over the wall in
right field for his 23rd homer of the season.
Michael Young singled to center field leading off the eighth, but David Murphy
immediately grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Kuroda faced the minimum that
inning.
Ichiro Suzuki caught Ian Kinsler's drive to left on the warning track for the
second out of the ninth. Andrus then grounded out to second base.
Game Notes
The Rangers agreed to terms with catcher Koyie Hill on a minor league contract
and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock ... The Yankees haven't had a no-
hitter since July 18, 1999 when David Cone threw a perfect game against the
Montreal Expos ... Harrison threw 106 pitches, three less than Kuroda ...
Kuroda's other shutout this year came in a rain-shortened game against
Toronto on July 18.
The Sports Network