Texas Rangers

Paxton Dominant, Encarnacion HR in Return, Yankees Rout Rangers

James Paxton pitched one-hit ball for seven shutout innings, striking out 12 and winning his seventh straight start as the New York Yankees bounced back in a big way, routing the Texas Rangers 10-1 Tuesday night.

Gary Sanchez hit two home runs, Edwin Encarnacion added a two-run drive in his return from the injured list, and Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner also connected. The five homers came a day after Mike Minor and the Texas bullpen ended New York's streak of 220 games without being shut out.

Paxton (12-6) pitched quickly and began with 4 2/3 hitless innings. The left-hander gave up his only hit when Isiah Kiner-Falefa had a clean single to right field.

Paxton walked one, mixing an effective fastball with a sharp curve he threw 27 times in his 95 pitches. The lefty matched the longest winning streak of his career and his season-high strikeout total.

Sanchez homered in the first and sixth innings as the Yankees won for the seventh time in nine games. The catcher broke his career-high with 34 homers and recorded his 14th career multihomer game.

Edinson Volquez (0-1) opened the game for Texas and allowed two runs on one hit. Ariel Jurado followed Volquez and allowed five runs on seven hits in four-plus innings.

The Yankees became the fifth team in major league history to hit at least 260 homers in a season. New York is six behind its franchise record set last season.

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Scott Heineman hit his first career homer in the ninth off Jonathan Loaisiga for Texas.

RANGERS MINOR SHAKEUP
Texas announced its coaching staff for Triple-A Nashville will not return next season. Manager Jason Wood guided Nashville to a 66-72 record and his staff included Eric Gagne as the bullpen coach and Brian Shouse as the pitching coach. Geno Petralli, also a coach for Nashville, will stay on as a roving instructor and hitting coach Howard Johnson also was offered a role in the organization.

CROWDED
The Yankees announced a crowd of 33,711 to go over the 3 million mark for a major league-record 21st straight season.

TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: RHP Luis Severino (right rotator cuff inflammation/strained lat) is expected to throw 55 pitches in his next rehab start Friday for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre. ... RHP Dellin Betances (right shoulder impingement) faced hitters in live batting practice and could appear in a rehab game later this week. . OF Giancarlo Stanton (right knee sprain) faced Betances in batting practice and hit a home run.

UP NEXT
RHP Lance Lynn (14-9, 3.77), who last won 15 games in 2014 for St. Louis starts for Texas on Wednesday. The Yankees are expected to use an opener.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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