ARLINGTON, Texas -- In the ultimate bounce-back inning, the New York Yankees answered a five-run Texas first inning with an 11-spot of their own in the second, putting the Bombers on course for a 21-5 rout of the Rangers Tuesday night at Globe Life Park. While the Yankees were scoring 21 unanswered runs on 19 hits, the Rangers were hitless in the final eight innings. What it means: The decisive outburst after falling behind early should be a confidence-builder going into the final two months of the season. More immediately, the Yanks extended their winning streak to four and their lead in the American League East remains seven games over the Baltimore Orioles. BP delayed: The Yankees cancelled outdoor batting practice before the game, but made up for it in the second inning when they sent 14 batters to the plate, with the first eight reaching base. The 10-hit outburst included four doubles and a three-run triple by Didi Gregorius, who followed up a three-hit game on Monday with a career-high four. Alex Rodriguez provided the go-ahead hit, an RBI double off the left-field wall. There were not many cheap hits in the bunch, but the Yankees did catch a break on Brendan Ryan's apparent double-play ball that Texas second baseman Rougned Odor misplayed into a double with the Rangers ahead 5-1. Ryan and Chase Headley each had two hits in the inning. Stellar bullpen: Diego Moreno answered the call in the first inning, getting the final out with the Rangers leading 5-0 and the bases loaded. After being presented with 11 runs in the second, Moreno (1-0) mowed the Rangers down over the next five frames, extending the bullpen’s streak of hitless innings in the series to 9⅓. Slamming man: Chris Young connected on his fourth career grand slam and second of the season off Wandy Rodriguez in the third inning that made it 15-5. Credit Young for opening the comeback second inning with a leadoff double. He added a double in the sixth for his fifth RBI. Weird night? Jacoby Ellsbury reached base twice on catcher's interference -- and did it against two Rangers catchers. Adam Rosales became the 11th Texas position player to pitch in the ninth and was tagged with a 399-foot home run by Brett Gardner. Forgettable start: Chris Capuano was an out away from retiring the Rangers without a run in the first inning. Instead, Capuano, making a spot start, saw seven straight Rangers reach base. Texas scored five runs and Capuano failed to get out of the first inning despite throwing 42 pitches. Up next: With an extra day of rest, Masahiro Tanaka (7-3, 3.64 ERA) will start for the Yankees in Game 3 of the four-game set at 8:05 p.m. ET Wednesday. The Rangers will counter with right-hander Colby Lewis (10-4, 4.49 ERA).
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