NEW
YORK — A.J. Burnett recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts, but Ian
Kinsler spoiled his outing with his first of two home runs as the
Rangers defeated the Yankees, 7-2, on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

Despite
owning sharp command for most of the afternoon, Burnett remained
winless in his past six starts due to a rocky fourth inning. The
right-hander retired the first 11 Rangers — seven via punchout –
before issuing a two-out walk to Josh Hamilton.

A free pass to
Nelson Cruz followed and, after a mound visit, Burnett grooved a
fastball that Kinsler slugged over the left-field wall for a three-run
homer. That was the sum total of the Rangers’ production against
Burnett, who allowed only two hits while walking three.

Phil
Coke served up a three-run homer to Chris Davis in the seventh inning
to pad Texas’ lead, and Kinsler belted a solo shot in the eighth off
Dave Robertson. Rangers starter Dustin Nippert walked seven batters in
3 2/3 innings but managed to hold the Yanks to two runs before turning
the pitching over to the Texas bullpen.

New York touched Nippert
in the first inning as Johnny Damon walked, stole second and scored on
Mark Teixeira’s single to center field. Nippert then walked two, but
stranded the bases loaded as Robinson Cano lined out to left.

After
Nippert issued the final two of his free passes, Teixeira trimmed the
deficit to one run with a sharp single to right, chasing Derek Jeter
home. But Alex Rodriguez tapped back to the mound, stranding the tying
run at third base. – Courtesy Yankees.com