The New York Yankees are producing uneven results on their longest homestand of the season because their pitching staff has struggled to prevent big innings. The Yankees hope to avoid finishing their homestand with a losing record Sunday afternoon when they face the Texas Rangers in the finale of a three-game series. Although New York is 9-4 in its past 13 after losing 23 of its previous 33, it is 4-4 on its homestand because of pitching struggles.
The Yankees have allowed 42 runs since returning home and have given up 26 in dropping three of the past four games. After winning three of the first four games, New York conceded a six-run second and a six-run fifth inning while getting outscored 17-6 in the last two games of a series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Yankees opened their doubleheader Saturday by cruising to an 8-0 rout but Luke Weaver allowed five runs in the sixth in the nightcap.
Weaver came in for Gerrit Cole, who was lifted after facing the first batter of the sixth and throwing 90 pitches. "It hurts," Weaver said. "You feel a little shell-shocked from it but just got to keep pushing forward, knowing there's another game tomorrow.
" Texas is 4-9 in its past 13 games and attempting to win a series for the first time since sweeping the Chicago White Sox as part of its five-game winning streak July 21-25. The Rangers had five hits and stranded nine in the first game Saturday but they collected 10 of their 16 hits against New York relievers in the second game. C.