Miles Mikolas earned his first win as a starter, pitching into the eighth inning Monday night and leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the sloppy New York Yankees.
Trailing by a run with none on and two outs in the sixth, Texas got run-scoring singles from Geovany Soto, Rougned Odor and Shin-Soo Choo to go ahead in only its third win in 17 July games.
Adrian Beltre drove in the Rangers' first run with a fielder's choice in the third inning on one of New York's five errors -- three by starting pitcher Shane Greene (2-1).
Second baseman Brian Roberts and shortstop Derek Jeter made the other errors for the Yankees, who had not committed five in a nine-inning game since Aug. 20, 1998, against Minnesota.
Mikolas (1-2) yielded two runs, including Jacoby Ellsbury's homer, and four hits in a career-high 7 1-3 innings to outlast Greene in a matchup of 25-year-old pitchers getting a shot because of injury-wrecked rotations.
Joakim Soria gave up a single to Kelly Johnson and plunked pinch-hitter Brian McCann with a pitch before getting Yangervis Solarte to fly out for his 17th save.
Mikolas won for the first time since Aug. 21, 2012, with San Diego. He made 25 relief appearances for the Padres that year. He's had little success this year, coming in with a 10.05 ERA in three starts.
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It all nearly fell apart for Mikolas in the fifth when the Yankees loaded the bases. But with a large crowd cheering Jeter on his figurine night, he grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Winners of only five of their last 25 games, the Rangers then broke through against Greene in his first appearance at Yankee Stadium.
Soto struck out with runners on first and third in the second -- they were there thanks to two poor throws to first base by Greene -- but came through with the tying hit in the sixth, a single to left after Jake Smolinski singled and Jim Adduci walked.
Matt Thornton relieved and gave up consecutive run-scoring hits to Odor and Choo.
Playing the outfield for the first time since the All-Star break because of left ankle trouble, Choo snapped an 0-for-22 skid with a third-inning double.
Green was charged with four runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. He had given up just two runs total in his first two career starts.
Carlos Beltran put New York ahead with a sacrifice fly in the first after Jeter walked, advanced to second on a balk and third on Ellsbury's single.
Ellsbury homered leading off the fourth to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. It was the seventh straight time he reached base after going 4 for 4 with a walk in a win over Cincinnati on Sunday.
NOTES: Rangers C Soto left after the top of the sixth with tightness in his right groin. Smolinski bruised his left foot and was lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth. ... Rangers RF Alex Rios (sprained right ankle) missed his second straight game. Manager Ron Washington said Rios looked much better and could play before the series ends Thursday. ... Injured Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (knee) turned 34. ... Up next: The Rangers plan to activate RHP Nick Martinez (1-6) from the DL to start Tuesday against the Yankees. He has been out since July 2 with discomfort on his left side. Rookie RHP Chase Whitley (4-3) starts for New York.
