Yankees eye sweep of Rangers

The New York Yankees will try to finish off a four-game sweep of the Texas Rangers this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

New York has sent a message to the two-time defending American League champions this week, taking the first three games of the set, while outscoring them 14-4 and holding the Rangers to just 14 hits.

"Our guys have done a tremendous job," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "I applaud our pitchers."

The Yankees won for the seventh time in eight games overall on Wednesday, as Freddy Garcia gave up a pair of homers to Josh Hamilton, but pitched into the seventh inning and New York held on for a 3-2 victory.

Nick Swisher had an RBI double as part of a three-run third inning, as the AL East leaders beat the Rangers for the 11th time in 15 tries since losing the 2010 ALCS. Eric Chavez went 3- for-3 with a run-scoring single.

Garcia (7-5) allowed four hits and fanned six over 6 2/3 innings to win his third consecutive start. He's undefeated over his last seven starts versus the Rangers.

Hamilton homered in the fourth and sixth innings, but was silenced in his at- bat leading off the ninth against Rafael Soriano by striking out.

"It's not really what you want in a one-run game with him coming up knowing what he's capable of doing and seeing some of the displays he's put on at Yankee Stadium," New York manager Joe Girardi said of Hamilton. "Soriano did a tremendous job on him."

The AL West-leading Rangers tied a franchise record with their eighth straight loss at Yankee Stadium, equaling the mark set in 1996.

Scott Feldman (6-8) yielded seven hits, walked four and struck out seven over six innings.

Heading to the hill for New York today will be right-hander Ivan Nova, who won for the first time in six starts on Saturday. Nova beat the Toronto Blue Jays in that one, holding them to two runs and five hits, while striking out 10 in 7 1/3 innings to run his record to 11-6 to go along with a 4.70 ERA.

He had allowed 16 runs in his previous two starts and had lost his last three starts.

Nova has faced the Rangers three times and is 2-1 against them with a 4.67 ERA.

Texas, meanwhile, will rely on lefty Derek Holland, who has struggled mightily in his career against the Yankees. Holland has faced the Bronx Bombers seven times (6 starts) and is 0-5 with a 9.36 ERA against them. He gave up seven runs in six innings in a loss to them earlier in the year.

Holland, who is 7-6 on the year with a 4.92 ERA on the year, did not get a decision on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, but pitched well, surrendering just a run and three hits in 7 2/3 innings. He also struck out nine.

The Rangers took two of three from the Yankees earlier in the year.