Texas Rangers 6, New York Yankees 5 (13 innings)

Nelson Cruz ties, then wins, critical game for Texas.

ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers helped set an American League record Friday night, defeating the New York Yankees 6-5 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The win improved Texas to 78-63, still seven and a half games ahead of the Oakland A's for first place in the AL West.

With the game tied at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the thirteenth inning, Nelson Cruz ended it with an inside-the-park home run off Yankees reliever Chad Gaudin. Cruz had earlier tied it in the eighth with another solo home run, sending the game into extra innings.

Rangers starter C.J. Wilson was terrible, allowing four runs on six hits over just three innings -- but that was an afterthought by game's end. Texas used a franchise record 11 pitchers in the game, and the 19 total pitchers used by both teams is an American League record.

Ian Kinsler had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. Kinsler's 12th stolen base of the season was probably unearned, as replays showed Kinsler out via tag. Despite that, the second base umpire ruled him safe, and Kinsler was able to score later on the play.

Julio Borbon also had a career day with four RBI. Borbon got the scoring started with an RBI groundout in the second inning, followed by a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth, and finally another RBI groundout in the bottom of the sixth.

Posted by Todd M.